As the Bahrain Grand Prix unfolded and George Russell raced in second place, messages slowly came through on his radio that different systems were failing. Team principal Toto Wolff put it simply: “The car was wounded.

Lando Norris quipped that it “would have been nice” if George Russell launched an attack on McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri for the lead at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The exchange occurred in the cooldown room ahead of the podium ceremony after Piastri claimed his second victory of the F1 2025 season in Sakhir.

Oscar Piastri powered to victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, coasting clear from George Russell's Mercedes to maintain McLaren's strong start to the season. - Gloves off - As the sun dipped down over the Gulf the start lights went out on the fourth race of the season with Piastri roaring off from pole and getting his gloves off early to fend off Russell's Mercedes to turn one.