Rui Marques race director

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took a controlled, dominant victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix to close on team-mate Lando Norris in the world championship. The Australian was serene in the lead, calmly keeping himself out of reach of his rivals, as Mercedes’ George Russell held off an assault from the second McLaren of Lando Norris for second. Norris, fighting back from sixth on the grid and a five-second penalty for a false start, had a chance to pass Russell going into the final lap, but could not make it work.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix with team-mate Lando Norris down in sixth. Mercedes’ George Russell qualified second but was demoted one place behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc because a team operational error. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, just one point behind Norris at the head of the championship, was one place behind the Briton in seventh.