SAKHIR: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri celebrated his 50th Formula One race with a pole-to-flag win in Bahrain on Sunday that sent him second overall and three points behind championship leading teammate Lando Norris.
The Australian also became the season’s first repeat winner in four races and ended reigning champions McLaren’s long wait for victory at their Bahraini owners’ home Sakhir circuit.
Norris finished third, after lining up sixth on the grid and then having to fight back from a five-second penalty for a jumped start under the floodlights.
Mercedes’ George Russell held off his fellow Briton for second in a tense battle over the closing laps but faced a stewards’ enquiry for allegedly using the drag reduction system outside the defined zone.
“It’s been an incredible weekend starting with qualifying yesterday and finishing the job today in style is nice,” said Piastri, who won by 15.499 seconds despite a safety car period wiping out his initial lead.
“It’s very important given our owners. It’s never been a track that’s been kind to us, so it’s nice to have our first win here.”
Norris now has 77 points to Piastri’s 74, with McLaren on 151 in the constructors’ standings and Mercedes second on 93.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were fourth and fifth, with the Italian team’s former boss Luca di Montezemolo the guest of honor waving the chequered flag.
Red Bull’s four-times world champion Max Verstappen, who had been only a point behind Norris after winning in Japan last weekend, finished sixth with Pierre Gasly scoring Alpine’s first points of the campaign in seventh.
Esteban Ocon, who crashed heavily in qualifying, redeemed himself with eighth for Haas and Yuki Tsunoda delivered Red Bull’s first double points finish of the year in ninth.
The final point was secured for Haas by British rookie Oliver Bearman, who started last.
Oscar Piastri celebrates 50th race with win from pole in Bahrain
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Oscar Piastri celebrates 50th race with win from pole in Bahrain
- Piastri wins for McLaren with Norris third
- Australian now second overall and three points off lead
- Russell second for Mercedes
UEFA rejects Benfica’s appeal against Prestianni ban for alleged racism toward Vinícius Jr
- UEFA said Wednesday, hours before the game was scheduled to begin, that its appeal body dismissed Benfica’s application against the suspension
- It confirmed the decision of its control, ethics and disciplinary body from Monday
NYON, Switzerland: UEFA has rejected Benfica’s last-minute appeal against the provisional suspension of Gianluca Prestianni, meaning he remains ruled out of the Champions League playoff second leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Prestianni was provisionally suspended on Monday for one match following accusations he racially abused Vinícius Júnior in the first leg last week.
The game was halted for nearly 10 minutes after the Madrid forward scored and then celebrated by the Benfica corner flag, upsetting local fans and players. After being confronted by Prestianni, Vinícius accused the Argentine player of calling him “monkey.”
Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt while talking to Vinícius, has denied racially insulting the Brazil star, who is Black.
UEFA said Wednesday, hours before the game was scheduled to begin, that its appeal body dismissed Benfica’s application against the suspension and that it confirmed the decision of its control, ethics and disciplinary body from Monday.
During the game, the anti-racism protocol was activated but no further action was taken as there had been no evidence against Prestianni.
Vinícius’ teammate Kylian Mbappé said he heard Prestianni use the racial slur five times.
But Benfica has supported their player, claiming Madrid players who said they heard the insult were too far away. The Portuguese club said they welcomed UEFA’s investigation and that they “fully support and believe the version presented” by Prestianni, “whose conduct while with the club has always been guided by respect” toward everyone.
José Mourinho also backed Prestianni and criticized Vinícius for his celebration after the goal – for which the player was booked. The Benfica coach said something always happens in stadiums where Vinícius plays.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Tuesday it was wrong to use Vinícius’ celebration to justify the alleged act of racism.
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany was among those who also criticized Mourinho for attacking Vinícius after last week’s match.
Mourinho is suspended for the second leg because he was sent off late in the first leg for referee dissent. But he also traveled to Madrid with Prestianni, who trained with the rest of the team on Wednesday before UEFA rejected his club’s appeal.
