The Bahrain Grand Prix felt considerably like a missed alternative for Ferrari, particularly given how the race unfolded, regardless that there can 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 workforce to go for that tyre firstly of the race — Charles Leclerc was in a position to lengthen his first stint by a couple 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 alternative, particularly contemplating it was made softer this yr, thus representing a superb different 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 obtained firstly for lining up outdoors his grid slot.
This distinction in tyre life allowed the Monegasque to shortly 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 — not 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 in all probability wouldn’t have labored, as a result of — missing a second set of mediums — the one different would have been to suit both softs or hards, with the latter not exhibiting promising efficiency, as anticipated. Furthermore, as quickly as Leclerc bought behind Russell, he began to undergo from soiled air, leading to tyre overheating.
“I used to be beginning to wrestle a bit behind George, my tyres had been overheating, so I believe we might 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 resulting from particles on monitor shortly after midway by the race, Mercedes determined to take a threat by becoming the softest compound, whereas Ferrari performed it protected by selecting a compound that — for sure — would take each SF-25s to the tip.
The arduous compound positively 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 instantly. The Ferrari driver held off Norris’s assaults so long as he might, regardless of the McLaren man having better-performing tyres, with the overtake solely coming about seven laps from the tip.
Nonetheless, for Leclerc the arduous was the best alternative, as a result of in keeping with him, it wouldn’t have been potential for Ferrari to take the gentle to the tip. “I believe it was the best alternative, given what we had. Clearly George Russell managed to make the gentle final till the tip. I don’t suppose that was an possibility for us, however we’ll analyze it. I don’t suppose it could have modified a lot although,” he added.
Wanting forward, Charles Leclerc emphasised that technique is barely a short lived patch for Ferrari’s points, a solution to attempt to cowl up sure weaknesses. Nevertheless, the basic downside stays the identical one talked about per week in the past after the race in Suzuka: in his view, the SF-25 merely isn’t quick sufficient.
“Clearly it’s disappointing whenever 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 every part this weekend, however our greatest isn’t sufficient,” mentioned Leclerc, including one other layer of research to his race.
“It seems like proper now we’re not quick sufficient. You’ll be able to 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, once we had been on the identical tyres because the others on the finish, we struggled to maintain the tempo, similar to firstly. So I believe total we lacked tempo,” the Monegasque added.
“Then clearly, whenever you’re missing tempo, no matter technique you select, you’re at all times 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 the moment lacks downforce, regardless of the updates delivered to the ground this weekend — which little question helped, although their impact can be seen extra clearly in Jeddah than in Sakhir. The hole to the highest, nonetheless, remains to be not absolutely closed.
“I believe we want extra: extra aerodynamic load, extra grip. I believe proper now, by way of stability, we’re extracting the utmost from the automotive, however there’s nothing else. I simply want extra grip to be quicker by 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, nonetheless, 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 wished, however sure, in the long run I’m positive we’ll discover our method. How lengthy it’ll take, although, I don’t know.”
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