Oscar Piastri’s commanding performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday earned him a significant victory, prompting George Russell to commend him as being unmatched.
This triumph brings Piastri within three points of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship. Leading from start to finish, Piastri crossed the line 15 seconds ahead of Russell.
Russell had a chance to catch up when debris led to a safety car on lap 32. However, Piastri maintained his lead after racing resumed four laps later. “Oscar was in a league of his own. Congratulations to him and McLaren,” said Russell. He acknowledged McLaren’s expected strong performance at this circuit and expressed confidence from his team’s recent podium finishes.
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Russell faced scrutiny post-race due to a DRS infringement as technical issues emerged during the final laps. The DRS activated incorrectly, but stewards ruled no advantage was gained, allowing him to retain second place. Reflecting on the incident, Russell stated: “It felt under control, and then suddenly, we had a brake-valve wire failure.”
Norris Reflects on His Performance
Lando Norris started sixth and finished third but was disappointed with his performance. “It was a messy race from me,” he admitted, regretting not securing a one-two finish for McLaren at their home race. Despite this, he acknowledged some positives from the race.
Norris also commented on his close battle with Russell towards the end: “I thought I would be able to get him, but I guess he was probably just saving a bit at the end.” He praised Russell’s strategy in maintaining position.
The World Championship now heads to Saudi Arabia next weekend. McLaren aims to strengthen their hold atop both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings as they continue their campaign.