Bahrain Grand Prix Race Day F1 Highlights: Oscar Piastri Wins From Pole; George Russell Second

Saturday saw Oscar Piastri emerge on top in the third and final free practice, as well as qualifying. George Russell was a surprisingly strong challenger and placed second for Mercedes, 0.168 of a second off Piastri's time. But a penalty for a team mix-up meant he won't start today's race alongside Piastri. A ruling issued late Saturday dropped Russell one place because Mercedes released his car from the garage to the pit lane before it had officially reopened following a red flag. Charles Leclerc, who qualified third for Ferrari, will start second.

Proceedings are underway at the Bahrain International Circuit. Piastri, starting on pole, makes a good start and builds up a substantial lead on George Russell, who's in second. Lando Norris, meanwhile, zooms off sixth place and climbs to third place quickly.

The pit stops are coming thick and fast with the window opening. Leader Oscar Piastri has pitted, as have George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen. The Red Bull ace goes for hard tyres, which has come as a surprise for many considering nobody else has opted for them and their uncertainty in the Sakhir conditions.

Max Verstappen has had enough of the hard tyres, so he pits again but the changeover takes time and he rejoins the race in last place. Meanwhile, Piastri stays comfortably in the lead and behind him is Russell, who is followed by Leclerc. And Lando Norris seems to be having a technical issue, as he's heard saying on the radio: "Why is my right red light on? I can't turn it off."

We are into lap 41 now and things are beginning to heat up. Lando Norris first passes Lewis Hamilton in a move that the Ferrari driver deems was off the track and Norris gives the place back to the F1 legend. Then, the McLaren driver overtakes Hamilton legally to usurp third place. Piastri still retaining his lead, and Liam Lawson gets a five-second penalty for an earlier collision with the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.

After a strong start from P6 and falling back in the middle stages, Lando Norris has passed Charles Leclerc to enter third place, behind George Russell and Oscar Piastri. Russell, however, is under probe for DRS infringement - for using DRS when he shouldn't have.

No surprises in the end as Oscar Piastri cruises to victory, hardly putting a foot wrong from pole position in Bahrain. This is his second win of the season, starting on pole and also McLaren's first-ever triumph at this circuit.

Mercedes driver George Russell withstands Lando Norris' challenge to finish second, while Piastri's McLaren teammate Norris finishes a creditable third to complete the podium.

While Oscar Piastri, George Russell and Lando Norris celebrate on the podium, it is worth noting that the standings for the race are provisional and the positions of Russell, Norris and a few others are subject to change based on the pending penalties that were inflicted through the course of the 57-lap race. Nevertheless, here's the top 10, as it stands currently:

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

2. George Russell (Mercedes)

3. Lando Norris (McLaren)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

8. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

9. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)