The desert never sleeps. ‘ With a sign with a clear message, the Bahrain Grand Prix, second of the three of the first 2025 and fourth triplete of the Formula 1 2025 calendar, becomes real. It is raised as a ‘revenge operation’ within the ‘impossible mission’ that looks like the season of Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. Everyone knows Sakhir of memory, there will be conditions of the Persian Gulf and not the rare tests, and the two Spaniards want to climb integers.
Fernando Alonso at the Japan Grand Prix. AP Photo/Hiro Komae
Sakhir is a circuit in which everyone has shot to satiety and presents two major novelties with respect to what was lived in Suzuka. There will be more slow curves and degradation rises exponentially, which points directly to Alonso’s AMR25. They are not the best ingredients, but the Asturian rarely fails. “It will be a difficult weekend, but we will continue trying. In Japan we gave the stick and we will not give up,” he said after the last race.
It will be a difficult weekend, but we will keep trying. In Japan we gave the stick and we are not going to give up
Fernando Alonso
For Sainz also touches the next step. Because it is a good opportunity after being very fast in the test and being able to find another step in Japan with Williams. “There have been changes from the other time in Williams. Both on the wing and Set-Up,” he recalled. He will seek to return to the points zone, something he only stepped on in China after the mess of the Gasly disqualifications and the two Ferrari.
That is precisely the challenge. Alonso’s to get out of the year that only compares, in the results, to its year of premiere in Minardi (2001) and the three courses of McLaren-Honda (2015, 2016 and 2017). And the global after several opportunities and the only position at points of the 10th of Sainz in Shanghai.
Carlos Sainz at the Chinese Grand Prix.
All against McLaren
They are the conditions of a grand prize that is already taking color. The teams, like every Wednesday, place all their boxes and some will continue to test news. As the aforementioned Williams front wing, the Haas floor and that Ferrari and a ground rumor, although it still does not seem introduced into the SF-25. In addition, everyone monitors two figures: Red Bull, who already recovers their corporate colors, and McLaren, the great favorite.
Those of energy drinks lived a high after the exhibition of Max Verstappen in Japan. “It reminds me of me in 2012,” said Alonso, who flipped with his classification return. There was not the fastest in any sector, but the global return served to take the best time. In the race, he resisted before some McLaren that ended up desperate for team non-rennes. “I have the rhythm to reach Max,” Oscar Piastri repeated on the radio. But they didn’t give him green light.
Red Bull Driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, Right, Is Sprayed Champagne by Second Placed, McLaren Driver Lando Norris of Britain, Second Left, and Third Place McLaren Driver Oscar Piestri of Australia, Left, On The Podium after The Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at The Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (Ap Photo/Hiro Komae)
Even so, McLaren stands in Bahrain as a favorite. They swept the tests in sensations and have a higher advantage in degradation, Sakhir’s key. Of course, his work will be to choose well which boss of rows will have in the race between Lando Norris, leader of the World Cup, and Oscar Piastri, winner in China and perhaps with a little more rhythm than the British.
The preseason here in February was relatively good, but we will have different conditions here in April
Andrea Stella
“The MCL39 proved to be competitive in the first three races, but we are still realistic about the work we must do to maintain that competitiveness. The preseason here in February was relatively good, but we will have different conditions here in April,” said Andrea Stella, papaya team manager.