Max Verstappen’s Near-Miss Déjà Vu: The Eerie Parallels of Bahrain 2021 and Australia 2025

Formula 1 is a sport of fine margins, where victories and defeats are often decided by mere tenths of a second. For Max Verstappen, two agonizingly close runner-up finishes—Bahrain 2021 and Australia 2025—stand out in his career. Both races were season openers, both saw Verstappen losing by under a second to his main championship rival, and both hinted at a storyline that could define the entire season.

But could history be repeating itself? Could his 2025 season mirror 2021, where an early heartbreak led to an ultimate triumph? The similarities between the two races are uncanny, and they could be an omen of what’s to come in one of the most unpredictable F1 seasons yet.

Bahrain 2021: The First Battle for Supremacy

A Showdown in the Desert

The 2021 season opener at the Bahrain International Circuit was more than just another race—it was the beginning of a new era in Formula 1. After years of Mercedes domination, Red Bull Racing finally had a car capable of challenging them for the title. And leading the charge? Max Verstappen.

After a blistering qualifying session, Verstappen secured pole position, putting him in the best possible spot to start the season with a victory. But in his rearview mirror sat Lewis Hamilton, the reigning world champion and the man who had ruled Formula 1 for the past seven years.

The battle between Verstappen and Hamilton was nothing short of a chess match on wheels. Both drivers pushed their cars to the limit, with strategy playing a key role. Red Bull and Mercedes traded pit stop gambles, but as the race neared its conclusion, Verstappen found himself in second place, chasing down Hamilton.

The Heartbreaking Finish

In the dying laps, Verstappen made his move. He overtook Hamilton with just a few laps to go, but in doing so, he ran wide off the track—an infringement that forced him to give the place back. With time running out, Verstappen had no choice but to follow Hamilton across the line, finishing just 0.745 seconds behind.

A brutal way to start the season, no doubt. But that race would only be the beginning.

What Followed? A Season for the Ages

Though the loss in Bahrain 2021 was painful, it lit a fire under Verstappen. The season would go down as one of the most controversial and intense in F1 history. The Dutchman and Hamilton traded wins, crashes, and controversies until the infamous final race in Abu Dhabi, where Verstappen clinched his first world title in dramatic fashion.

Could the pattern repeat itself in 2025?

Australia 2025: A Stormy Battle in Melbourne

A Rain-Soaked Season Opener

Fast forward to March 2025, and the Formula 1 circus arrived in Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Unlike Bahrain 2021, which was a dry and calculated battle, this race was pure chaos—torrential rain turned Albert Park into a skating rink, and the event became one of the most unpredictable in years.

Verstappen had qualified in second, just behind Lando Norris, who put in a stunning pole lap for McLaren. Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso lined up behind them, with Mercedes struggling in the tricky conditions.

As the race began, the treacherous wet conditions caused early drama. Several drivers—including Alonso and Sainz—were forced to retire due to crashes. But at the front, it was once again a two-horse race, this time between Verstappen and Norris.

The Final Laps: A Familiar Story

Much like in Bahrain 2021, Verstappen found himself hunting down the leader in the closing laps. Norris’ McLaren was struggling with tire wear, while Verstappen had just enough grip to push for a last-gasp overtake.

With only two laps to go, Verstappen lunged down the inside, attempting to steal the win. But just like in Bahrain, it wasn’t to be. Norris defended aggressively, forcing Verstappen to back out of the move.

The checkered flag fell, and Lando Norris took the first Grand Prix victory of his career—with Verstappen finishing second, just 0.821 seconds behind.

The Chilling Similarities: A Sign of Things to Come?

The parallels between Bahrain 2021 and Australia 2025 are almost too eerie to ignore.

• Season Openers: Both races kicked off their respective F1 seasons.
• Less than 1-Second Defeats: Verstappen finished second by an agonizingly slim margin.
• Title Rivals: In 2021, it was Hamilton; in 2025, it was Norris—both of whom were considered Verstappen’s biggest championship challengers.
• Final Lap Battles: Both races saw Verstappen attempt a last-minute overtake but fall just short.

If 2021 was any indication, Verstappen could be in for another legendary season.

Will 2025 Mirror 2021?

While history doesn’t always repeat itself, Formula 1 has a strange way of creating poetic narratives.

• In 2021, Verstappen turned an early defeat into a world title.
• In 2025, could he do it again?

This time, however, there are differences:

• Lando Norris and McLaren are a new threat. Unlike Hamilton and Mercedes in 2021, Norris is not a proven champion—yet. But his win in Melbourne suggests McLaren has built a car capable of fighting Red Bull all season long.
• Red Bull’s dominance is no longer certain. In 2021, Red Bull and Mercedes were locked in a two-team war. In 2025, it’s not just McLaren—Ferrari and Mercedes are also in the fight.

For Verstappen, this might be his toughest season yet.

What Happens Next?

The 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be a classic. With McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes all closing the gap to Red Bull, we could be in for the most competitive championship battle in years.

And what about Verstappen?

• If 2021 is any clue, he’s about to fight back with a vengeance.
• If Australia was just a small glimpse of what’s to come, then buckle up—because this season could be historic.

So, will the déjà vu continue? Or will Norris and McLaren break the cycle and finally dethrone Verstappen?

One thing is certain: Formula 1 fans are in for a season they will never forget.