F1 Results Today: Max Verstappen crushed by shock rival as Red Bull suffered….Readmore
F1 Bahrain GP Practice: Verstappen Trails Rivals as Red Bull Endures Tough Outing
Red Bull endured a difficult start to the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend as both their main and junior drivers struggled for pace in the opening practice sessions. The team appeared out of sorts from the outset, raising questions about their form heading into the rest of the weekend.
In Free Practice 1 (FP1), Red Bull’s rookie stand-in Ayumu Iwasa finished a disappointing 19th on the timing charts. The Japanese driver, stepping in temporarily for Max Verstappen, failed to find competitive rhythm throughout the session. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda once again found himself outperformed by Liam Lawson, who continues to impress with Racing Bulls. The young New Zealander’s consistency further highlights Tsunoda’s recent form struggles within the Red Bull driver pool.
Max Verstappen returned to action for Free Practice 2 (FP2), but the reigning world champion was unable to significantly turn things around. He could only manage the eighth-fastest lap, trailing not only the front-runners but also some unexpected names. Among them was French rookie Isack Hadjar, who surprisingly set a faster time than Verstappen, signaling the unpredictability of the session.
Tsunoda, unfortunately, remained the slowest among all Red Bull-affiliated drivers across both sessions, compounding a frustrating day for the Milton Keynes-based outfit. The team now faces pressure to quickly address its performance issues before the crucial qualifying session.
In stark contrast, McLaren enjoyed a stellar day at the Bahrain International Circuit. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris lit up the timesheets with commanding displays, especially in FP2. Piastri, in particular, delivered a statement performance by lapping over half a second faster than Mercedes’ George Russell, who finished third. Norris also showed strong pace, underscoring McLaren’s intent to maintain their early-season momentum and emerge as a serious challenger.
The session results have added a dramatic twist to the weekend’s narrative, with Red Bull unexpectedly on the back foot while McLaren pushes forward with confidence. As the teams prepare for qualifying and the race, all eyes will be on whether Red Bull can regroup and recover, or if this marks a genuine shift in the competitive pecking order at the top of Formula 1.
