FACTS AND STATS: Oscar Piastri the first repeat polesitter of 2025 as he takes second Grand Prix pole in Bahrain

Oscar Piastri became the first repeat polesitter of the 2025 season after claiming top spot for the Bahrain Grand Prix, as McLaren team mate Lando Norris was sixth. Here’s a round-up of all the best facts and stats from another Qualifying session…

Piastri's top spot is his second career Grand Prix pole position after he started first for the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this season.
The Australian's pole in Bahrain also marked the first time a McLaren has started from the first grid slot at the track despite racing at the venue since 2004.
As well as becoming the first repeat polesitter of 2025, Piastri's margin to George Russell (0.168s prior to his one-place grid drop) also stands as the biggest so far.
Second place for Charles Leclerc proved to be the best Ferrari Qualifying performance of the season so far.
Before his one-place grid drop for a Q2 pit lane infringement, Russell's P2 time equalled his best-ever starting position at the venue, when he qualified second on his Mercedes stand-in debut for the Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020.

Having started last on the grid in Bahrain for the last two years, Pierre Gasly will start fourth for Alpine in Sunday's race.
It marks the best starting position for a car from the Enstone team since Fernando Alonso won with Renault at the 2006 edition.
Today also marks Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore's 75th birthday.
Kimi Antonelli's impressive debut season continues, as the Mercedes driver has qualified higher with each Grand Prix, including 16th, 8th, 6th and now 5th having also being demoted one spot after being sent into the pit lane too early during Q2.
Drivers' Championship leader Lando Norris registered his worst Qualifying performance since starting sixth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year.
Despite his disappointment, sixth on the grid is the best-ever starting position for Norris in Bahrain.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - APRIL 12: Seventh placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle — Verstappen suffered with braking issues and starts seventh

Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen will start seventh, his worst grid position in Bahrain since 2018.
Ominously, Verstappen won the last time he started a Grand Prix from outside the top six, when he climbed to victory in Sao Paulo last year after starting 17th.
Sainz registered Williams' first top-10 start in Bahrain since 2017, as today also marks his dad, Carlos Sainz Sr's, 63rd birthday.
Despite switching to Ferrari from Mercedes this season, Hamilton will start from the same position as 12 months ago in ninth.
It also marks the lowest grid position of the season so far for the seven-time World Champion.

AS IT HAPPENED: Follow the action from Qualifying for the Bahrain GP as Piastri takes pole

Tsunoda's P10 starting position is the first time he has reached Q3 in Bahrain and also the first time in 2025 that both Red Bulls have made the final stage of Qualifying.
Despite missing out on a Q3 spot by only 0.017s, P11 for Alpine's Jack Doohan marks his career-best start so far.
In contrast, 12th place for Isack Hadjar is the lowest starting position for the Formula 1 rookie this season.
Alonso endured a difficult qualifying in Bahrain, as P14 marks his lowest starting position at the venue since 2017, while he has not started lower during 2025.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - APRIL 12: Marshals assist Esteban Ocon of France and Haas F1 after a crash — Ocon suffered a crash in Q2 on the exit of Turn 3

Despite crashing out in Q2, 14th for Esteban Ocon means he has outqualified Haas team mate Oliver Bearman 3-1 so far this season.
Prior to Qualifying in Bahrain, Alex Albon was one of seven drivers to reach Q3 at every race so far this season.

WATCH: Ocon brings out the red flags after heavy crash in Bahrain Qualifying

Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson suffered a DRS issue in Qualifying which left him only P17, meaning the Kiwi has gone out in Q1 for the third time in four races this season.
Kick Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto was also eliminated in Q1 for the third consecutive race, while for Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, it marked his second Q1 elimination in a row.
Having reached Q3 for the first time in Japan, things came crashing down for Oliver Bearman in Bahrain as the Haas driver finished as the slowest qualifier.