Ferrari will begin the Bahrain Grand Prix on the entrance row with Charles Leclerc. This is good news for the Italian facet in Method 1, as Ferrari is ready to attempt to capitalize on this vital alternative due to the double penalty obtained by the Mercedes drivers. The Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying confirmed the superb type of Oscar Piastri, who delivered an excellent efficiency to crown an ideal weekend up to now, in full continuity with what had been seen within the final free apply periods.
The younger Australian was extraordinarily efficient in placing the lap collectively, totally exploiting the potential of a well-balanced and exact McLaren at each level on the observe. On the opposite facet, Charles Leclerc introduced his SF-25 to 3rd place—the very best consequence realistically achievable in the mean time. The Monegasque beat his teammate by a full +0.598 seconds.
He did so by confirming that he had discovered a simpler method to extract efficiency from a fancy and sometimes unpredictable automobile, as we identified on this article. An encouraging signal, contemplating the difficulties confronted within the first three races of the 2025 Method 1 season. As already highlighted within the evaluation of the second free apply session, the SF-25 single-seater confirmed understeer, however to a lesser extent than in China and Japan.
Charles Leclerc is best at stitching collectively the racing traces, brushing the within curbs with larger precision. Nonetheless, slight oversteer emerges in some sections of the observe, notably throughout lift-off and transition phases. This can be a minor annoyance that barely impacts efficiency, though in some circumstances the Monegasque driver has been capable of flip this trait to his benefit.
Telemetry information evaluation instantly reveals a vital element within the first sector: Charles Leclerc loses important floor popping out of Flip 2, a degree the place glorious traction is crucial with a purpose to launch towards the straight resulting in Flip 3. Right here, the McLaren MCL39 shines: the setup of the rear dampers seems to be extra tuned to fast compression, serving to the automobile to settle successfully and launch torque extra progressively.
The “papaya” pace hint rises earlier and extra steeply than the purple one, demonstrating simpler traction and higher mechanical reference to the rear. On the finish of the second DRS zone, coming into Flip 4, Charles Leclerc loses one other tenth. Regardless of having larger cornering pace (as much as +4 kilometers per hour), the Monegasque driver exits too broad, having to delay throttle software.
This can be a level he and his engineer labored on extensively through the F1 weekend, making an attempt to maximise entry and mid-corner pace, even at the price of barely sacrificing the exit part. Oscar Piastri, in contrast, adopts a extra conservative strategy on entry to Flip 4, lifting off sooner than Charles Leclerc. This enables for a a lot cleaner, extra linear, and fast exit, with glorious steering response.
His racing line seems extra composed, the results of well-centered steadiness and robust confidence within the rear finish. Persevering with by means of the lap, within the snake part (Turns 5-6-7), the delta nonetheless favors Oscar Piastri, who carries extra pace by means of every nook—as much as +5 kilometers per hour, and particularly navigates these course modifications with exceptional ease. His steering factors exactly the place he desires to go.
This ends in a clear line, with none corrections, permitting him to persistently mount each inside curb. Charles Leclerc’s issue at this part is obvious within the raise he has to use between Turns 6 and seven—about 15% greater than the Australian—indicating that the Monegasque was not solely assured together with his automobile on this a part of the observe.
Heading towards the tip of the second sector, Charles Leclerc begins to recuperate some floor, even in corners like Flip 10, the place he was dropping important traction within the second free apply session on Friday. However Flip 11 stays a weak spot: the quantity 81 MCL39 continues to make the distinction right here, giving Oscar Piastri a second sector time of 38.574, a couple of tenth and a half faster than the Ferrari driver.
This hole is nearly solely concentrated in that nook. The McLaren sticks to the observe floor, displaying good steadiness: no steering corrections, no hesitation, only a easy and composed development. The Australian driver can open the throttle a lot earlier and with a stability that lets him energy out strongly with out compromising his line. Charles Leclerc, in contrast, finds the rear finish too free, with even extreme rotation that, whereas serving to nook entry, complicates throttle reapplication. The identical scenario repeats at Flip 13, the place the papaya automobile dominates the micro-sectors. The Ferrari SF-25, although not behaving dramatically, reveals extra corrections, an indication of a narrower and fewer secure working window in comparison with the McLaren.
Within the closing a part of the observe, as soon as once more, the British automobile seems to have extra rubber left to take advantage of, managing to maximise grip even within the closing elements of the lap, when tire situation begins to degrade. This means higher thermal administration and a extra even load distribution between entrance and rear, permitting Piastri to push all the way in which to the ultimate meter.
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