HRH Crown Prince hails McLaren’s stunning 1-2 finish at dramatic British GP

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, was among those watching trackside as McLaren claimed a spectacular one-two finish at a rainsoaked and drama-filled British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Royal Backing for a Historic Win

The Crown Prince, a long-time supporter of the team through Bahrain’s investment in McLaren, congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and celebrated what HRH called an “outstanding performance.”

The Crown Prince also wished the team continued success as they push for the Formula 1 World Championship title this season.

The win is another high point in a standout season for McLaren, who also took victory earlier this year at the Bahrain Grand Prix – a symbolic triumph at what the team calls its “second home race.” That April win, led by Oscar Piastri and backed by a podium for Lando Norris, was McLaren’s first ever victory at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Silverstone Delivers Chaos and Glory

And it was a performance worthy of royal applause. In changeable conditions that kept teams and drivers guessing, Lando Norris clinched his first British Grand Prix victory, with teammate Oscar Piastri following in second to give McLaren their first 1-2 at Silverstone in over a decade.

“This is as good as it gets,” Norris said after the race, visibly emotional as he described the victory as the realisation of a childhood dream. “The fans carried me through the last few laps. It was chaotic, stressful – but amazing.”

The race was anything but straightforward. Piastri took the early lead after passing Max Verstappen as the track began to dry, but with rain returning mid-race, strategy became everything. A well-timed double stack for intermediate tyres saw both McLaren drivers stay in contention, though a slower pit stop cost Norris track position temporarily.

Piastri was later handed a 10-second penalty for a Safety Car infringement but managed to fight back to second after a strong stint on medium tyres. Meanwhile, Norris regained the lead and held on through changing conditions and multiple Safety Car periods.

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella praised the entire squad: “We leave our home race with a 1-2 – a fantastic result and a great reward for the team’s effort. Lando drove brilliantly, and Oscar showed real resilience.”

Bahrain’s Growing Footprint in F1

For Prince Salman, the result was not only a proud moment as a supporter of McLaren but also a testament to the Kingdom’s deepening ties with the world of Formula 1 — a sport in which Bahrain continues to play a pivotal role, both on and off the track.