Aside from a breakthrough moment in the sprint race in Shanghai, the Brit has failed to match the pace of team-mate Charles Leclerc. This was the case again at the Sakhir International Circuit. Hamilton qualified a lowly ninth on Saturday,

Hamilton qualified almost a second behind polesitter Oscar Piastri and six tenths behind Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.

Ferrari recorded their highest qualifying position of 2025 so far with Charles Leclerc third on the Bahrain Grand Prix grid, but Lewis Hamilton struggled and only went ninth fastest