Tazi’s News

The Formula 1 world keeps moving fast — and this week is no exception. Here’s your weekly roundup of the most important Formula 1 news leading into the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025.

📍 Race Preview: 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix (Round 4)

Round 4 of the 2025 F1 World Championship takes place this weekend at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. The race is scheduled for Sunday, April 13 at 18:00 local time (17:00 CEST).

🧪 FP1 Rookie Driver Lineup for Bahrain

Six young drivers will take part in Free Practice 1 in Bahrain — a key step in the FIA’s program to give future F1 stars real track time. Here’s the FP1 rookie driver lineup:

• Ayumu Iwasa (Red Bull) replaces Max Verstappen
• Dino Beganovic (Ferrari) replaces Charles Leclerc
• Frederik Vesti (Mercedes) replaces George Russell
• Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin) replaces Fernando Alonso

These FP1 appearances give valuable experience to rising talents eyeing a full-time F1 seat in future seasons.

Driver Expectations Ahead of Bahrain GP 2025

As the F1 grid heads to Bahrain for Round 4, here’s what the top drivers are expecting from this crucial weekend in the desert:

Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)

Verstappen is entering Bahrain with his eyes firmly set on reclaiming the championship lead. After a commanding victory in Japan, he’s just one point behind McLaren’s Lando Norris. Despite some recent bumps for Red Bull, Max is confident the team can bounce back and deliver another strong result under the lights.

Lando Norris (McLaren)

Lando leads the standings with 62 points and is riding high on momentum. He knows the fight at the top is tight but believes McLaren has what it takes to keep him on the podium this weekend. Bahrain’s layout could play to their car’s strengths — and he’s ready to defend that #1 spot.

Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

Oscar has been quietly but consistently climbing the ranks. Sitting third in the standings, he’s not making big statements — but he knows Bahrain could be a breakthrough weekend. McLaren’s steady performance gives him confidence that a maiden win might be closer than ever.

George Russell (Mercedes)

Russell has stepped into a leading role at Mercedes this season and is embracing it with confidence. After two podiums already, he sees Bahrain as a key benchmark. It’s a chance to prove Mercedes is making real progress — and that he’s ready to lead the charge.

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

Leclerc is optimistic going into the weekend. Ferrari has made improvements, especially in tyre management — a critical factor at a track like Bahrain. If the team can put it all together, Charles believes they could be right in the mix for the top five — or even better.

Leclerc is optimistic about Ferrari’s improvements, particularly in tyre management. He believes these gains could translate into a strong performance in Bahrain.

Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

Hamilton is heading into the Bahrain weekend with a sense of optimism. After a tough start to his first season with Ferrari, he’s hoping a new upgrade package — especially a revised floor — will bring him closer to the front. “I’m confident we can take a step forward,” he said. While things aren’t perfect yet, he sees Bahrain as an important opportunity to close the gap

Tyre compounds provided by Pirelli:

• C1 (Hard)
• C2 (Medium)
• C3 (Soft)
• Intermediates and Full Wets.

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