The Bahrain Grand Prix erupted into chaos as the FIA dropped a bombshell, confirming that Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were among a staggering 16 drivers slapped with deleted lap times for track limit breaches. The Sakhir circuit, known for its unforgiving layout, became a battleground where even the sport’s titans couldn’t escape scrutiny. This wasn’t just a race—it was a spectacle of precision pushed to the edge, with penalties flying left and right.
Verstappen, the Red Bull prodigy, and Hamilton, Ferrari’s seven-time champion, found themselves caught in a web of violations that rocked the paddock. The FIA’s eagle-eyed stewards enforced track limits with ruthless consistency, wiping out laps for drivers who strayed beyond the white lines. Verstappen, starting from a shaky seventh after brake issues, fought tooth and nail to climb to sixth, but his deleted laps added fuel to an already fiery performance. Hamilton, finishing fifth, wasn’t spared either, with his off-track excursions costing him valuable data in a fiercely competitive field.
The drama didn’t stop there. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri stole the show, converting pole into a commanding victory, but even he wasn’t immune, losing a lap time after a brief flirtation with Turn 11’s outer limits. Meanwhile, six drivers—Verstappen, Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar, and others—teetered on the brink of disaster, each shown the black-and-white flag, one violation away from a five-second penalty. Jack Doohan wasn’t so lucky, copping a post-race time penalty, while Kimi Antonelli’s six breaches led to a pit-stop punishment that left Mercedes reeling.
Track limits have always sparked debate, but Bahrain’s enforcement felt like a thunderclap. The FIA’s message was clear: no one, not even the sport’s biggest names, gets a free pass. With 80% of the grid penalized, questions swirled about the balance between racing instinct and rigid rules. Some argued the drivers were being handcuffed, forced to tame their aggression on a circuit designed to reward bravery. Others praised the FIA for leveling the playing field, ensuring no one could gain an unfair edge by cutting corners—literally.
The fallout extended beyond the race. Verstappen’s frustration boiled over on team radio, his Red Bull struggling to match McLaren’s pace. Hamilton, meanwhile, stayed composed but couldn’t hide his disappointment as Ferrari trailed McLaren and Mercedes. Norris, despite a five-second penalty for a false start, clawed his way to third, keeping his championship lead intact. The podium—Piastri, George Russell, and Norris—celebrated, but the real story was the FIA’s iron grip on the rulebook.
As the dust settles, Bahrain has set the tone for 2025: unpredictable, unforgiving, and unapologetically intense. With Verstappen and Hamilton already under pressure, the championship fight promises more fireworks. Fans are buzzing, and the paddock is on edge. One thing’s certain—Formula 1 is back, and it’s wilder than ever.[](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/1046826/fia-confirm-max-verstappen-lewis-hamilton-deleted-laps-bahrain-gp-multiple-breaches/)[](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/1046837/f1-bahrain-grand-prix-2025-results-final-classification-penalties-applied/)[](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/1046783/f1-safety-car-bahrain-grand-prix/)
