The Bahrain Grand Prix is McLaren's race to win, but also to lose

Australia, China and Japan, what do these three races have in common? That they should have been unequivocally won by a McLaren driver in a dominant fashion.

In Australia a hungry Max Verstappen was too close for Lando Norris' comfort, as the Briton made what could have been a race defining mistake at Turn 6 had he gone just an inch wider.

In China, Oscar Piastri dominated his teammate, but the gap to their pursuer, Mercedes' George Russell, was again closer than it should have been. An out of the blue safety car, might made things very difficult for McLaren in Shanghai.

In Japan, however, the unthinkable happened. Despite having a clearly lesser car, Max Verstappen managed to snatch the pole and the win from both papaya drivers with a flawless lights to flag driver.

In Bahrain, despite their many attempts to shy away from their "dominant team" role, thus taking the burden to win week in and week out off, and with it the pressure that comes with knowing they are the absolute benchmark, McLaren have been forced to accept what the paddock has been repeating restlessly since winter testing: The Woking-based squad are the dominant team in 2025.

The F1 Bahrain Grand Prix is McLaren's race to win and to lose

Having lost the race in Suzuka due to a highly conservative strategy, something that may have cost Piastri a shot at the win as well in Australia, the team may very well be set for a debacle in Bahrain.

Red Bull Racing and Verstappen just proved it in Suzuka, not to mention in 2023, the most dominant season registered by any team/driver duo in F1 history: it's not enough to have the superior car, one must also have the most refined pit-crew, the most effective pitwall, and the most courage to make the right calls at exactly the right time.

Thus, the Bahrain Grand Prix is McLaren's race to win, but also it's their race to lose.

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