FP2 of the Bahrain GP confirms McLaren as the main contender for victory, thanks to an impressive race pace and an even more dominant performance on a single lap. The Woking-based team finished the session with a one-two, placing its drivers in first and second position. The lap times reveal a significant margin: the two McLaren drivers put more than half a second between themselves and Russell, who finished third.
McLaren once again proves to be the car best suited to the characteristics of the circuit: a responsive front end and a stable rear, managing to avoid overheating issues.
Despite a lower top speed compared to rivals, the MCL39 performs flawlessly in nearly every phase of the lap. The speed trap recorded a maximum speed of 319 km/h for Oscar Piastri, compared to 326 km/h for George Russell and 323 km/h for Charles Leclerc. A picture reminiscent of what was seen in Japan: lower top speeds, indicating a less efficient rear wing, with the fuel loads and Power Unit deployment still uncertain.
The DRS delta analysis shows Mercedes gaining 23 km/h with the rear wing open, compared to 19 km/h for Ferrari and 18 km/h for McLaren. With DRS closed, the values are more aligned, with Mercedes holding an advantage of just 2 km/h.
Telemetry analysis reveals a highly aerodynamically loaded McLaren, capable of managing tire temperatures effectively and completing laps without overheating the compounds towards the end. In the first corners, Mercedes gains two tenths thanks to better traction out of turn 1 and higher speed on the straight. However, McLaren dominates in the second sector.
Where the MCL39 makes the difference
In the fast sequence of turns 5-6-7, McLaren enters turn 5 more decisively and later, completely lifts off the throttle but returns to 100% throttle earlier than its rivals, tackling turns 6 and 7 almost flat out. In every subsequent corner, the MCL39 shows higher minimum entry and cornering speeds: it brakes later, turns in with precision, and generates perfect traction — signs of excellent balance and tire-friendly behavior.
The only weak point remains in high-speed sections, where McLaren gives up a bit, but its overall balance still allows it to gain over half a second in total.
Ferrari behind Mercedes
Ferrari still shows some adaptation difficulties. In particular, in turns 8, 11, and 13, Leclerc tries to rotate his SF-25 with slight throttle inputs, indicating a car that is still unresponsive and difficult to read. Nevertheless, Ferrari is not far from Mercedes and could still be in contention for the lowest step of the podium.
As already highlighted, McLaren and Mercedes are evenly matched in the first and third sectors, with Mercedes slightly faster in the first by about two tenths. But it is in the second sector that McLaren makes the difference, gaining about seven tenths on Mercedes thanks to superior handling in fast corners. This is a very promising sign for the team with a view to the race, where tire management will be crucial.
The Bahrain circuit, which tends to reward technical package over driver talent, seems to favor the work done by the Woking team. The weekend, for now, appears to be heading in McLaren’s direction, both in qualifying and in the race.
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