If one needed to sum it up, what can be the stability sheet of the Bahrain Grand Prix for Ferrari? Similar to in Suzuka, in Sakhir as nicely essentially the most simple and sincere response got here from Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver stated it was clearly disappointing to provide all the pieces and end fourth, a state of affairs that didn’t make him smile. However, he added, in the interim, this was the scenario they have been in. They did their greatest over the weekend, however their greatest wasn’t sufficient.
These have been the feedback of a driver who had completely different hopes and expectations for the beginning of the 2025 System 1 season, but needed to confront a actuality by which Ferrari nonetheless needed to assert itself among the many chasing pack. The fourth and fifth place end on the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain Worldwide Circuit in Sakhir was a bitter capsule, not a lot due to the factors haul, however as a result of missed podium, with the Italian facet nonetheless sitting at zero podiums for the season.
Nevertheless, one query stays: how a lot did the doorway of the Security Automobile after mid-race price Ferrari, at a degree when Charles Leclerc seemed to be absolutely within the combat for a top-three end? This was one of many matters addressed by Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur, who emphasised that the timing of the Security Automobile was the worst doable second for Ferrari’s strategic plan.
The truth is, the Maranello group had chosen a totally completely different tactic from its closest rivals, beginning on the medium tires primarily based on a twin reasoning, even at the price of shedding second place with Charles Leclerc at lights out, because it was seemingly many would do away with the smooth tires early on, when it typically made essentially the most sense to take action. Whereas it’s true that monitor place issues much less in Bahrain than at different circuits, selecting a special technique, particularly when beginning on the entrance—at all times carries dangers, significantly if one will get caught in visitors.
Ferrari adopted the alternative reasoning: on one hand, beginning on the medium tires provided a bit extra strategic flexibility primarily based on how the race unfolded, and however, it allowed them to run the smooth tires within the remaining stint with a lighter automobile, inserting much less stress on the tire and providing extra grip at a stage the place the SF-25 tends to indicate extra indicators of pressure.
Though it wasn’t the first technique primarily based on the Pirelli suggestions, the one-stop choice was additionally on the desk, as Charles Leclerc talked about over the radio at one level throughout the Bahrain Grand Prix. It was one of many situations Pirelli had thought-about, although solely as a distant chance, as very particular situations would have been required for it to work—particularly with the laborious compound, which proved as gradual as anticipated.
Because the race unfolded, Ferrari would have seemingly adopted its preliminary plan: two stints on the medium, which was one of many primary benefits they’d over Mercedes, adopted by a remaining stint on the smooth. In comparison with final yr, the medium tire had been softened, making it an ideal center floor: efficient each when it comes to efficiency and sturdiness.
As a result of grip distinction, Charles Leclerc instantly misplaced two positions at the beginning, falling to fourth, behind George Russell, arguably his primary rival for the rostrum, and Lando Norris, who ought to have had a better time shifting up the sector given the MCL39’s competitiveness, have been it not for varied errors that weighed greater than they may have appeared.
As anticipated, Ferrari prolonged the primary stint, making a four-lap delta over George Russell and as many as seven laps over Lando Norris. For the British McLaren driver, the selection was virtually compelled: it was clear he was shedding time behind George Russell and in addition needed to serve a five-second penalty for a start-line infraction.
At that time, the seven-lap offset to Charles Leclerc began to matter, permitting the Monegasque to shut the hole relatively shortly. And that is the place the race turned strategically attention-grabbing. Wanting at the beginning instances of the second stint, it’s instantly clear that the approaches have been completely different.
With the benefit of getting two units of mediums, Charles Leclerc pushed instantly, setting quick laps in fast succession. For comparability, his first full flying lap within the second stint was a couple of second faster than George Russell’s. In essence, the 2 drivers had fully completely different approaches.
The Mercedes driver knew that, missing a second set of mediums, he had solely two choices: to go along with the laborious compound or attempt to handle his present set to make use of a second set of softs on the finish, thus matching Ferrari’s technique, a state of affairs not far-fetched, already seen final yr, though the monitor again then was just a few levels cooler.
That’s the reason his stint was cautious from the beginning, and if one examines the lap instances intently, it’s clear he maintained a constant tempo because the tires wore down, an indication that he was managing them from the start. This was additionally confirmed by telemetry information, which confirmed George Russell was managing the tires each in quick sections, like turns 6/7 and 12, and through traction phases out of slower corners, delaying throttle software and placing extra pressure on the entrance tires than the rear.
Whereas the seven-lap distinction made it comparatively simple for Charles Leclerc to get forward of Lando Norris, issues have been barely completely different with George Russell. Because the tires wore, the Mercedes driver started to push extra in some areas of the monitor, holding a gentle tempo, whereas the Monegasque began battling soiled air.
Charles Leclerc defined that he was starting to have some bother behind the Mercedes W16 automobile as his tires have been overheating, and he thought they may have compelled George Russell to pit, which might have been nice, however they didn’t handle to do it. In actuality, simply moments earlier than the Security Automobile got here out, the Ferrari driver had managed to get inside a second of George Russell and that would have been the decisive turning level. However within the laps main as much as it, the hole stored stretching and shrinking like an elastic band, as a consequence of what Charles Leclerc had talked about, particularly letting the tires breathe.
So how would issues have modified with out the Security Automobile? Every little thing would have relied on the strain utilized to George Russell. In all probability, the Brit nonetheless had one thing in reserve, and it’s laborious to think about Mercedes pitting early for the laborious compound, particularly since they averted that tire even after the Security Automobile.
If Charles Leclerc had managed to overhaul the British driver, which was removed from assured, then the rostrum would have been really inside attain. But when not, the state of affairs would have shifted dramatically. One factor to notice: when Charles Leclerc caught as much as the Mercedes, the hole to Lando Norris stabilized at about 2 seconds.
Had George Russell not elevated his tempo, Lando Norris would have been again within the recreation. The truth that the Ferrari driver nonetheless had one other set of mediums was a significant benefit, and if the hole had remained regular, it might have allowed him to cut back the seven-lap deficit that had penalized him within the second stint.
In fact, the Monegasque would have needed to do fewer laps on the smooth compound and with a lighter automobile, however McLaren might need compelled the difficulty, with Lando Norris pushing the mediums more durable, which successfully was essentially the most aggressive tire on Sunday on the Sakhir circuit. The truth is, all of Charles Leclerc’s hopes hinged on just a few laps earlier than the second and remaining pit cease.
These questions, nevertheless, have been wiped away by the Security Automobile, which not solely modified the plans but in addition reshaped the outlook of a race that had loads of intrigue. After the Security Automobile got here out, Ferrari went for the most secure choice, the laborious tire, believing they may not full the remaining distance on the smooth, whereas Mercedes took a extra aggressive strategy.
Frederic Vasseur defined that, with the Security Automobile, they’d no alternative: for them, doing 24 laps on the smooth was bold, however for Mercedes it paid off. The French supervisor added that the monitor was in all probability extra rubbered in and cooler. He believed their preliminary technique was good, they paid a little bit of a worth within the first stint by extending it, however the tempo was strong, and it might have been an excellent race with out the Security Automobile. Nevertheless, the Ferrari group principal concluded that they couldn’t complain in regards to the end result of the Bahrain Grand Prix, as it’s a part of the sport.
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