The Bahrain Grand Prix felt considerably like a missed alternative for Ferrari, particularly given how the race unfolded, though there shall be time and methods, with extra in-depth evaluation, to know what the end result may need been with out the Security Automobile.
After selecting to start out on the medium compound — the one group to go for that tyre at first of the race — Charles Leclerc was capable of lengthen his first stint by a number of laps in comparison with his direct rivals, becoming one other set of the identical compound. As anticipated, the medium proved to be the best selection, particularly contemplating it was made softer this yr, thus representing a superb various to the arduous, which is definitely extra sturdy but additionally slower.
If the hole to George Russell was solely 4 laps, in comparison with Lando Norris it prolonged to seven, contemplating that McLaren had determined to name the Brit in early to get him out of the Mercedes driver’s site visitors and permit him to serve the penalty acquired at first for lining up outdoors his grid slot.
This distinction in tyre life allowed the Monegasque to rapidly shut the hole to Norris, pulling off an overtake on lap 25 with a pleasant transfer below braking at Flip 4, on the surface, after closing again in utilizing DRS. From there, Leclerc additionally set his sights on Russell, slowly beginning to shut the hole — no less than till it stabilized at round one and a half seconds.
The Monegasque’s hope was to push Mercedes into an early cease, one thing that most likely wouldn’t have labored, as a result of — missing a second set of mediums — the one various would have been to suit both softs or hards, with the latter not displaying promising efficiency, as anticipated. Furthermore, as quickly as Leclerc acquired behind Russell, he began to undergo from soiled air, leading to tyre overheating.
“I used to be beginning to battle a bit behind George, my tyres had been overheating, so I believe we may have pushed him to pit, which might have been nice, however we didn’t handle to,” the Ferrari driver defined after the race.
With the Security Automobile popping out as a result of particles on observe shortly after midway by way of the race, Mercedes determined to take a threat by becoming the softest compound, whereas Ferrari performed it protected by selecting a compound that — indubitably — would take each SF-25s to the top.
The arduous compound undoubtedly allowed Leclerc to achieve the chequered flag, however given the tempo distinction in comparison with the opposite two compounds, the choices had been restricted — except rivals made errors or their tyres dropped off abruptly. The Ferrari driver held off Norris’s assaults so long as he may, regardless of the McLaren man having better-performing tyres, with the overtake solely coming about seven laps from the top.
Nonetheless, for Leclerc the arduous was the correct selection, as a result of in response to him, it wouldn’t have been doable for Ferrari to take the mushy to the top. “I believe it was the correct selection, given what we had. Clearly George Russell managed to make the mushy final till the top. I don’t suppose that was an choice for us, however we’ll analyze it. I don’t suppose it might have modified a lot although,” he added.
Trying forward, Charles Leclerc emphasised that technique is just a brief patch for Ferrari’s points, a technique to attempt to cowl up sure weaknesses. Nevertheless, the basic downside stays the identical one talked about every week in the past after the race in Suzuka: in his view, the SF-25 merely isn’t quick sufficient.
“Clearly it’s disappointing once you give it your all and end fourth, it doesn’t make me smile. However, for now, that is the state of affairs we’re in. We gave all the pieces this weekend, however our greatest isn’t sufficient,” mentioned Leclerc, including one other layer of study to his race.
“It looks like proper now we’re not quick sufficient. You may phrase it in numerous methods. We pushed a bit within the first stint and had been faster within the second, however solely due to degradation. Then, after we had been on the identical tyres because the others on the finish, we struggled to maintain the tempo, identical to at first. So I believe total we lacked tempo,” the Monegasque added.
“Then clearly, once you’re missing tempo, no matter technique you select, you’re all the time on the again foot. So sure, [the bottom line is that] we’re not quick sufficient,” added the Ferrari driver, who additionally highlighted how the automotive at present lacks downforce, regardless of the updates dropped at the ground this weekend — which little question helped, although their impact shall be seen extra clearly in Jeddah than in Sakhir. The hole to the highest, nevertheless, continues to be not absolutely closed.
“I believe we want extra: extra aerodynamic load, extra grip. I believe proper now, by way of steadiness, we’re extracting the utmost from the automotive, however there’s nothing else. I simply want extra grip to be quicker by way of the corners. In qualifying, I nonetheless really feel I can masks it a bit, however then within the race, if there’s no grip, you get extra degradation and that’s it.”
Charles Leclerc, nevertheless, additionally left a glimmer of hope on the finish of the tunnel, which he described as “longer than he would have appreciated”: “I don’t know, I believe this tunnel is a bit longer than I might have needed, however sure, ultimately I’m positive we’ll discover our approach. How lengthy it’ll take, although, I don’t know.”
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