Norris and Piastri Prepare for Bahrain Battle as McLaren Aims to Rebound from Suzuka

Lando Norris believes McLaren may struggle to keep Red Bull at bay during the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite an impressive start to their 2025 season. Norris, who currently leads the Drivers’ Championship by just one point over Max Verstappen, admitted that Bahrain’s slower-speed layout could present challenges for his team.

“Right now, I think it’s unlikely we’ll be able to hold them off,” Norris said ahead of the weekend. “Bahrain is very different from the last few circuits. It exposes some of our weaknesses, especially in low-speed corners.”

McLaren has won two of the season’s first three races—Norris in Australia and Oscar Piastri in China—but had to settle for second and third at Suzuka as Verstappen claimed victory. Norris expressed disappointment at missing out in Japan. “We had the better car, and we should’ve won, but Max and Red Bull executed better,” he admitted. “It wasn’t a good feeling, but we took it on the chin. Now, we focus on making amends.”

He added that the team’s race pace remains strong, especially in higher temperatures like those expected in Bahrain. However, Norris isn’t confident about qualifying: “I think we might struggle more in Quali. Hopefully, I’m wrong, and it’s an easy weekend.”

Oscar Piastri echoed Norris’ outlook but maintained confidence in McLaren’s performance. “I don’t think Verstappen’s win changes much,” Piastri said. “We still believe we have the fastest car, but our lead isn’t big enough to get complacent.”

Piastri emphasized the importance of precision in qualifying, where Red Bull remains a threat. “If we don’t execute perfectly, we could lose out. It’s going to be a tight fight all year long.”

The Bahrain International Circuit hasn’t always been favorable to McLaren, and Piastri called it a “good test” for the team’s progress. “We’re more confident than ever. Testing showed we’re in a good place—but it’s 20 degrees hotter now, so things could change,” he said.

Both drivers are focused on maintaining momentum while acknowledging that the path to victory in Bahrain won’t be straightforward. With the championship fight tightening, every decision and every lap will count.