Sun Apr 13 05:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Norris Leads F1 Championship by a Point Despite Qualifying Woes

**Sakhir, Bahrain** – Lando Norris heads into Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix with a one-point lead in the Formula 1 World Championship despite admitting to a baffling loss of form during qualifying. The McLaren driver qualified a disappointing sixth, 0.426 seconds behind his teammate Oscar Piastri who secured pole position.

Norris expressed his frustration, stating, “I’ve been off it all weekend. I don’t know why. Just clueless on track at the minute.” He attributed the issue to an inability to adapt to changing track conditions, hindering his ability to find a consistent rhythm.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella offered a more optimistic assessment, suggesting Norris is experiencing a temporary phase affecting his qualifying performance but not his race pace. Stella emphasized Norris’ strong race simulation times and expects him to contend at the front on Sunday.

In contrast to Norris’ struggles, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified seventh, while other notable performances included Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in third and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) in ninth, a significant deficit behind his teammate. Hamilton similarly struggled to explain his lack of pace. Ferrari showcased a new floor on their car, with Leclerc crediting it for a performance boost.

The Bahrain Grand Prix begins at 16:00 BST on Sunday, broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live with live text updates available on the BBC Sport website and app. The race promises a thrilling battle for the championship lead, with Norris’ current advantage a slender one point over Verstappen.

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