(Motorsport-Total.com) – On April 12, Formula 1 would have held the Bahrain Grand Prix. However, due to the political situation in the region, the race was canceled at short notice. Therefore, the question remains: How would the planned fourth Grand Prix of the 2026 Formula 1 season have turned out? We asked several AI models for answers. More specifically: ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.
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The AI tools based their predictions on the one hand on the previous season results from the Grands Prix in Australia, China, and Japan. In addition, we provided further data: the average lap time delta of drivers and teams for qualifying and race, the development of race pace from Australia to Japan, as well as position changes in the first lap of the previous races.
ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity also incorporated the track characteristics of the Bahrain International Circuit into their calculations: The rough asphalt with a focus on good traction and realistic overtaking opportunities, according to ChatGPT, “speaks more for cars with a stable long-run balance and efficient energy use”.
The result is clear: All AI tools consistently name Mercedes as the clear favorite for victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix – and uniformly see the current championship leader Kimi Antonelli in front. Opening winner George Russell would finish in second place, just behind his teammate, in all simulations.
Behind them, the now familiar picture emerges: Ferrari and McLaren are fighting for the chasing positions behind Mercedes.
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However, the tools disagree on who takes third place: ChatGPT sees Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc in front, while Gemini and Perplexity favor McLaren driver Oscar Piastri for P3. The AI platforms agree that Leclerc and Piastri are currently to be classified as stronger than their respective teammates.
Max Verstappen would finish in the points for Red Bull in all simulations: seventh with ChatGPT and Gemini, sixth with Perplexity. Alpine driver Pierre Gasly also achieves a top-10 finish in all simulations, Audi driver Nico Hülkenberg only remains without points with Gemini, and only ChatGPT does not see Haas in the points at all in Bahrain.
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ChatGPT explains in summary: “The most likely picture is a Mercedes one-two finish with Antonelli just ahead of Russell. The greatest uncertainty lies behind them: Red Bull, Alpine, Haas, and Audi could mix significantly depending on tire degradation and the starting phase.” According to Gemini, Gasly, Hadjar, Bearman, Ocon, and Hülkenberg form the “core of the battle for the final points positions”.
Overall ranking of all AI tools:
1. Kimi Antonelli
2. George Russell
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Lando Norris
7. Max Verstappen
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Isack Hadjar
10. Oliver Bearman
11. Esteban Ocon
12. Nico Hülkenberg
13. Liam Lawson
14. Franco Colapinto
15. Arvid Lindblad
16. Gabriel Bortoleto
17. Alexander Albon
18. Carlos Sainz
19. Fernando Alonso
20. Sergio Perez
21. Valtteri Bottas
22. Lance Stroll
Simulation result ChatGPT
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
6. Lando Norris (McLaren)
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
9. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
10. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
11. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
12. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
13. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
14. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
15. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
16. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
17. Alexander Albon (Williams)
18. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
19. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
20. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
21. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Simulation result Gemini:
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Lando Norris (McLaren)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
9. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
11. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
12. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
13. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
14. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
15. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
17. Alexander Albon (Williams)
18. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
21. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Simulation result Perplexity:
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Lando Norris (McLaren)
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
9. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
10. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
11. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
12. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
13. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
15. Alex Albon (Williams)
16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
17. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
18. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
19. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)