Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 Predictions: Norris and Bearman backed

F1 returns this weekend in Bahrain and having come in for some criticism last time out at Suzuka for a boring race, we are hoping for more overtaking this weekend. For what it is worth, I thought Max Verstappen’s win was well-deserved and he has proven that he is not going to let go of his title without a fight, which is ultimately going to lead to a more entertaining season. 

As a result of Max’s win, we had one win and one miss from last weekend’s tips, with Oscar Piastri finishing third when we backed him for the win. Alexander Albon however, duly delivered us another point to make our money back across both selections. Anyway, enough of me blabbering on, let’s dive right into my Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 predictions.

Lando Norris to win the race @ 11/10

The first bit of good news for all of us UK viewers is that we don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn for this race, scheduled for a 16:00 start BST. It means we can enjoy a leisurely Sunday before tucking into the main course, which is the fourth race of the F1 2025 season. 

Now I don’t want to tear into McLaren too much at this stage of the new campaign, but I was severely disappointed with them in Japan. They finished second and third, which is decent in terms of collecting points for the Constructors’ Championship - but they have to start getting wins on the board, and what’s more - I think they have to start making aggressive tactical decisions to chase race wins. 

Zak Brown is stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. He has two drivers who are of similar ability, and the fastest car on the circuit - despite Verstappen’s impressive win last time out. He has to keep Piastri interested by letting him race freely, but ultimately it cannot impact Norris’ title chances. The Brit has to rack up as many race wins in the first half of the season as possible, which could see him to the title as it did for Red Bull in 2024. 

I’m working on a running theory that if Norris is above EVS to win any race in the first half of this year, I’m going to back him. If McLaren get things right he should take the chequered flag, plus he was the fastest in FP1, which is all I have to go on at the time of writing. Lando has the ability and the car to make this happen - but if McLaren aren’t careful, their indecision could cost him the Drivers’ Championship further down the line. 

Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 Odds

Oliver Bearman to finish in the top 10 @ 5/2

Now I was going to back our mate Albon again, but his odds have been shortened from EVS last week, to 8/13 at the time of writing. Although you know by now that I think he is a steady pair of hands, I’m taking more of a risk in Bahrain in search of a winner. 

In terms of value, I think it’s worth looking at Haas’ Oliver Bearman to secure a top-10 finish. He’s been a decent performer during his short stint in F1 so far, having shot to superstardom when he replaced Carlos Sainz for Ferrari at last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. 

He raced twice for Haas last season and did enough to secure a permanent seat this term, and I think he has been one of the best of the newbies so far. Still only 19, he had a shocker in Australia on the opening weekend, but in the two races since he has finished 10th on track. In Shanghai he surged up from 17th to 10th, and was eventually bumped up to eighth due to the disqualification of the Ferrari’s, while he was solid in Japan and edged out Fernando Alonso for another points finish. 

He’s now managed top-10 finishes in four of his six Grands Prix in total, and I’m backing him to follow that up with another top display in Bahrain. At a big price, I think Bearman is worth backing this weekend.