Max Verstappen slogged away for a sixth-place finish in a Bahrain Grand Prix where fortune was never on his side.
He suffered two slow pit stops, for different reasons each time, which ruined the team’s efforts to keep him in contention by using the ‘undercut’. The Safety Car appeared soon after his final stop, playing into the hands of those who stayed out longer.Meanwhile he continued to grapple with the RB21, which was far less co-operative in Bahrain than it had been when he won in Suzuka a week ago.
On past occasions when races haven’t gone his way, such as during the Hungarian Grand Prix last year, Verstappen has not spared his team his ire, firing off angry outbursts on his radio. On this occasion he was considerably more restrained, though he made his dissatisfaction with the team’s mistakes clear after taking the chequered flag.
Max Verstappen’s 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix radio
Stint 1: Soft
Stint 2: Hard
Stint 3: Medium
Finish
Stint 1: Soft
Verstappen was quick to spot rival Lando Norris had not lined up correctly in his grid box at the start. The McLaren driver duly received a penalty, but despite having lined up together on the grid, they never saw each other during the race.
The Red Bull driver also pointed the finger at Carlos Sainz Jnr after he passed the Williams driver on the outside of turn four.
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| Lap: 1/57 VER: 1’43.877 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Lando is over his grid box. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Okay, understood, thanks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Last car, approach at the back of the grid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Mode six, mode six. Fail alpha zero, fail alpha zero when you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 2/57 VER: 1’38.403 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | DRS enabled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 4/57 VER: 1’38.549 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | I need more aggressive engine braking [unclear]. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 5/57 VER: 1’38.760 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | B-bal nine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Verstappen passes Sainz on the outside of turn four He doesn’t leave me a car’s width. |
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| Lap: 8/57 VER: 1’39.385 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | My front tyres are way too hot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | B-Bal seven is available. Lift-off also efficient method to reduce them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Engine 11, position 6. Engine 11 position 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stint 2: Hard
Red Bull made an early switch to the hard tyres, but problems with their pit exit lights kept Verstappen in his pit box for too long. This was one moment where his frustration appeared to get the better of him.
Once back on the track, things did not improve, as both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton overtook him. Verstappen told his team he was powerless to defend.
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| Lap: 10/57 VER: 1’43.293 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Box and pit confirm. Strat 12 in pit lane, strat 12 in pit lane. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 11/57 VER: 1’59.918 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Verstappen is late leaving his pit box as the team’s pit exit lights remain on red Fuck’s sake, man. |
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| Lambiase | Strat 10, white line on the exit, strat 10. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Racing Doohan, alongside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Display 10, position one, when you can. Display 10 position one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 13/57 VER: 1’38.327 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | May be close with Antonelli, Max, Antonelli at pit out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Engine 11, position 7. Engine 11 position 7, when you can | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 16/57 VER: 1’39.303 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Mate I have just no tyre grip at all. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 17/57 VER: 1’38.408 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Antonelli at 0.3. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Strat five, when you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 19/57 VER: 1’38.515 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | 0.6 behind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 20/57 VER: 1’40.427 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Antonelli passes Verstappen Everything is overheating. |
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| Lap: 22/57 VER: 1’40.076 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Car behind Hamilton, he’s on a fresh medium. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Hamilton passes Verstappen I can’t even brake anymore, it’s just ridiculous. |
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| Lambiase | Yeah, understood Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 23/57 VER: 1’38.433 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Do I have margin to go rearwards on the brakes? I’m not rear locking. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Okay, B-bal four, B-bal four. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stint 3: Medium
Red Bull brought Verstappen in early again for his final pit stop. But in an ironic twist, the Safety Car was deployed soon afterwards, due to debris caused by his team mate Yuki Tsunoda colliding with Carlos Sainz Jnr.
Verstappen knew he would restart the race with several drivers on fresher rubber immediately behind him. But his prediction he would prove easy meat for them proved pessimistic, partly because Jack Doohan immediately behind him struggled on his older hard tyres and fell back.
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| Lap: 26/57 VER: 1’42.488 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Yeah my tyres are not responding any more. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Pit box and pit confirm. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Strat 12. Strat 12 in pit lane. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 27/57 VER: 2’00.045 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | The team are slow to change Verstappen’s front-right wheel. He shakes his head And strat five, white line on the exit, strat five, white line on the exit. |
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| Lap: 32/57 VER: 2’04.237 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Okay Safety Car deployed, dash positive. Safety Car deployed, dash positive | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | How many laps are remaining? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | 26 including this one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Strat six, strat six. Stay out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 33/57 VER: 2’12.451 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Yeah, I think people now behind me they will fly past [unclear] but let’s see. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Understood, Max, thanks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 34/57 VER: 2’00.369 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Okay, you are now free to make your way towards the Safety Car. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 35/57 VER: 2’19.150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Safety Car is in this lap. Will be mode three. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | So we are 22, 22 racing laps. Ocon, Gasly ahead, hard tyres. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Safety Car in pit lane. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 36/57 VER: 1’38.622 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Mode six. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 37/57 VER: 1’37.345 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | DRS enabled. Doohan behind, hard tyres. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 38/57 VER: 1’36.171 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | 20 laps remain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 39/57 VER: 1’36.670 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Strat five, strat five. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 40/57 VER: 1’37.059 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Ah there’s a lot of rear locking into into turn one. Recommendation? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Recommend B-bal 10 for turn one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 48/57 VER: 1’37.484 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | And that’s 10 laps remaining. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 49/57 VER: 1’37.620 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Mode nine, Max, mode nine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 50/57 VER: 1’37.684 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Okay Max we’ve now had two strikes for track limits at turn 13. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 53/57 VER: 1’38.435 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | That’s five laps remaining. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finish
Verstappen spent most of the rest of his final stint tracking sixth-placed Pierre Gasly, hanging just within DRS range of the Alpine. For the final lap, Red Bull told Verstappen he could use more of his maximum power mode to attack, and he duly nabbed sixth place. It was the only highlight of a tough afternoon.
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| Lap: 55/57 VER: 1’38.687 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Max, there’ll be two laps remaining next time round. You have six seconds of press-and-hold to use. But it will drain the battery, so I recommend you use that on the last lap and we’ll leave it to you where you want to use it, whether that’s down to turn one or to turn four. So two laps remaining. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 56/57 VER: 1’38.016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | You now have a black and white flag for track limits, no more allowed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | So, coming up to final lap. As I say, six seconds of overtake available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 57/57 VER: 1’37.662 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Verstappen passes Gasly at turn four There is some more available, two seconds. |
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| Lambiase | Press and hold, overtake, two seconds now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chequered flag | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Okay, nice overtake and P6. Plenty of pick up on the way in, please Max. Pick up on the way in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Yeah, that was at least positive, that last lap. Oh my God, that was difficult. Jesus. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Horner | Good move on the last lap there Max, that was a tough afternoon in the office so plenty to go away and look at but you drove your heart out today, well done. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Yeah, unfortunately a lot of things on our side also went wrong in that race, that doesn’t help. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Yep. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team radio transcripts
- ‘You’re the effective leader’: Full radio from Piastri and Verstappen’s Jeddah tussle
- “Don’t give me too much now”: Hamilton’s search for speed at Ferrari continues
- “What the hell have you done?” Leclerc shocked by his DRS opening at turn 12
- “Oh my God that was difficult”: Full radio from Verstappen’s luckless Bahrain GP
- “I’d really like info where I’m slow”: Hamilton’s struggles with his car at Suzuka
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix
- Hamilton making “drastic shift” in driving style to master Ferrari’s car
- Leclerc revealed Ferrari strategy details to Gasly before Bahrain Grand Prix
- Lawson made “very significant step forward” in Bahrain – Mekies
- Russell’s transponder was ‘frazzled and charred’ after Bahrain Grand Prix DRS drama
- “Don’t give me too much now”: Hamilton’s search for speed at Ferrari continues
Patrick (@paeschli)
14th April 2025, 13:11
Thought Max was pretty well behaved for how bad his race went (two pitstop error, pitting prior to the safety car instead of during it, and general lack of pace). Kept it cool and maximised his result on older despite his teams’ mistakes.
The Dolphins
14th April 2025, 19:31
– Max experiences what his teammates feel when driving a Red Bull.
Honestly though, Yuki finished 11s behind Max, that delta is something to be celebrated by the team. Then if Red Bull can get both cars to finish 5 places ahead they’ll be singing.
Patrick (@anunaki)
14th April 2025, 20:58
it was flattered by the Safety Car but Yuki was in the points while Max was only 6th so that must be hopefull for the team
Applebook
15th April 2025, 0:11
“Luckless?” Max was on pace for no points without that safety far. Those hard tires were a complete disaster and ruined his race. Choosing the wrong tires cannot be attributed to poor luck. The pit stop light malfunctions were very unlucky though.
MacLeod (@macleod)
15th April 2025, 7:52
They mean they pitted just before the safetycar it would be luckly if they pitted during the safetycar…
Jojo
15th April 2025, 10:35
He was already back up to P13 and had set fastest lap before anyone pitted under the safety car, Ocon was just 1.3 seconds ahead and on slower hard tyres so he would have got him. He was still in the pit window of Sainz who was running in P6, so he was still very definitely on for points. All of the drivers who pitted under the safety car were already due to pit if there hadn’t been a safety car. They actually all saved about 7 seconds by pitting under the safety car compared with those who had already stopped.
Sumedh
15th April 2025, 4:15
One of the messages says “B-Bal 10 for Turn 1”. Does that mean drivers change the brake balance for every turn? Or does one save /change the default brake balance for every turn and the computer adjusts it before every turn?
MacLeod (@macleod)
15th April 2025, 7:53
They change the balance for every turn every round….
MacLeod (@macleod)
15th April 2025, 7:53
error the driver does that on his steerwheel.
baasbas
15th April 2025, 11:30
@Sumedh
There are some really nice onboard shots on youtube for instance that specifically show all the setting changes drivers have to make… each round. For me that underlines how some drivers have the capacity to drive other peoples cars at the same time and look at camera feeds on the screens, like Alonso does. Or when Verstappen said Ferrari were doing a pit stop because he heard them while talking to GP
Doggy
15th April 2025, 13:02
MV mental capacity is outstanding. Alonso and Schumacher had had this skill.
That is one of they key things makes them uniquely talented. It’s not just driving the car fast.