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If we needed to make a guess, what could be Ferrari’s evaluation of the Bahrain GP? defined it this weekend, very like he did in Suzuka: “Clearly it’s disappointing once you give every part and end fourth — it doesn’t make me smile. However for now, that is the scenario we’re in. We did our greatest this weekend, however our greatest isn’t sufficient.”
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These are the phrases of a driver who had totally different hopes and expectations going into the beginning of the season, who’s now going through a actuality wherein the Scuderia nonetheless has but to carve out its place among the many pack. Fourth and fifth place are little question a disappointment. Not a lot when it comes to factors, however due to the missed podium. To this point, the Prancing Horse nonetheless hasn’t scored a single race podium — simply Lewis Hamilton’s Dash win.
With that in thoughts, coming again to Bahrain, one query stays: How a lot did the Security Automotive price Ferrari when it got here out simply previous the midway level, at a stage when Leclerc appeared to be totally within the combat for a top-3 end? In accordance with Ferrari’s crew principal Frederic Vasseur, it got here out on the worst potential second.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, MercedesMark Thompson – Getty Photographs
Mark Thompson – Getty Photographs
Ferrari’s medium compound tyre technique
Ferrari went into Bahrain with a very totally different technique in comparison with its rivals, beginning on the medium tyre — even at the price of dropping Leclerc’s second place simply after the beginning of the race (who may need opted for softs initially). It is true that monitor place isn’t as essential in Bahrain as it’s at different circuits, however selecting another technique, particularly when beginning on the entrance, all the time comes with dangers — notably if you find yourself caught in site visitors.
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For Ferrari, beginning on the medium would supply a little bit of strategic flexibility, permitting them to adapt primarily based on how the race unfolded. Alternatively, it could permit them to change to the softs for the ultimate stint when the automobile could be lighter and put much less stress on the tyre to supply extra grip — which was notably vital for the reason that SF-25 tends to point out indicators of wear and tear late within the race.
An alternative choice was on the desk — one Leclerc talked about over the radio in some unspecified time in the future through the race. A one-stop technique that even Pirelli had thought of. However this plan was extra of an extended shot, as situations would want to align completely for the exhausting tyre to work effectively, and for Bahrain was gradual to get working in any respect.
Because the race performed out, Ferrari caught to its unique plan of two stints on the medium — a softer compound than the yr prior offering extra efficiency and sturdiness — with a stint on the smooth tire, nonetheless giving them an higher hand over groups like Mercedes.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariClive Mason/Getty Photographs
Clive Mason/Getty Photographs
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However the medium tyre technique wasn’t a lot of a bonus over Mercedes. Leclerc instantly misplaced two positions initially, slipping to fourth behind each , realistically his major rival for the rostrum, and , who in principle ought to’ve had a simple time climbing again up the sphere given the competitiveness of the MCL39 — if not for a number of errors that ended up having a a lot larger impression on his day.
In response, Ferrari prolonged its first stint, making a 4-lap offset to Russell and a 7-lap hole to Norris. For the McLaren driver, the selection was nearly compelled: it was clear he was dropping time behind Russell and in addition needed to serve a five-second penalty for a beginning infraction.
At that time, the seven-lap offset to Leclerc started to make a distinction, permitting the Monegasque to shut the hole moderately shortly. And that is the place the race began to get attention-grabbing from a method standpoint. Trying initially instances of the second stint, the totally different methods in play develop into instantly clear.
The fork within the Ferrari technique
Having two units of medium tyres at his disposal, Leclerc instantly pushed to clock a collection of quick laps. To offer a full sense of how briskly in comparison with his rivals, an instance, on his first full timed lap within the second stint, Leclerc was working a couple of second faster than Russell.
Lap
Leclerc (Time)
Russell (Time)
Distinction
15
37,828
16
38,067
17
38,193
18
38,383
19
36,876
38,162
1,286
20
37,206
38,148
0,942
21
37,393
37,841
0,448
22
37,363
37,806
0,443
23
37,666
38,018
0,352
24
38,013
37,784
-0,229
25
37,452
38,076
0,624
26
37,476
38,045
0,569
27
37,947
37,929
-0,018
28
38,105
37,996
-0,109
29
37,781
37,777
-0,004
30
37,619
37,653
0,034
31
38,048
38,084
0,036
The Mercedes driver was properly conscious that with out a second set of medium tyres he had solely two alternate options: both swap to the exhausting compound or handle his tempo with the intention to try a second stint on softs on the finish — matching Ferrari’s technique. This wasn’t such an unlikely situation — Mercedes had run the identical situation final yr, though the monitor was a couple of levels cooler again then.
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However that is why Russell’s laps had been paced cautiously from the beginning. And for those who carefully look at the lap instances, you’ll discover he maintained a constant tempo because the tyres degraded — a transparent signal that he was managing from the start. This principle can be confirmed by the telemetry information, exhibiting that Russell was managing tyre put on each within the quick sections (like Turns 6/7 or Flip 12) and through traction phases out of slower corners, delaying throttle utility and placing extra stress on the entrance tyres than the rears.
Whereas the seven-lap distinction made it comparatively “simple” for Leclerc to get the higher of Norris, it was a barely totally different story with Russell. As tyre put on elevated, the Mercedes driver started to push a bit extra in sure areas of the monitor whereas protecting his tempo constant, whereas Leclerc began to battle in soiled air.
“I used to be beginning to battle a bit behind George, my tyres had been overheating, so I feel we might have pushed him to pit, which might have been nice — however we didn’t handle to,” Leclerc defined.
In reality, simply moments earlier than the Security Automotive was launched, the Ferrari driver had managed to get inside one second of Russell, and that would’ve been the decisive turning level in a podium ending. Nonetheless, within the laps earlier than that, the hole stored fluctuating like an elastic band — exactly for the rationale Leclerc talked about: giving the tyres a breather.
Telemetry information comparability between Charles Leclerc and George Russell Lap 21 Sakhir
Telemetry information comparability between Charles Leclerc and George Russell Lap 21 SakhirGianluca d’Alessandro
Gianluca d’Alessandro
What would have modified with out the SC?
This actually all would have relied on the stress placed on Russell. The British driver doubtless nonetheless had one thing left within the tank, and it’s exhausting to think about Mercedes pitting early for hards — particularly contemplating they averted that compound even after the Security Automotive got here out.
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If Leclerc had managed to overhaul Russell — which was removed from a given — then the rostrum would’ve been genuinely inside attain. But when he hadn’t, the situations would’ve shifted utterly. One factor to remember: when Leclerc bought proper behind Russell, the hole to Norris additionally stabilized round two seconds.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLarenGiuseppe Cacace – AFP – Getty Photographs
Giuseppe Cacace – AFP – Getty Photographs
If Russell hadn’t made that push, Norris would’ve been again within the recreation too. Having one other set of medium tyres was a giant benefit, and if the hole had remained secure, it could’ve allowed him to make up for the seven-lap offset within the second stint.
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Positive, Leclerc would have needed to run fewer laps on the smooth compound and with a lighter automobile, however McLaren might have pushed the scenario, and Norris might have squeezed extra efficiency out of the medium — which was, in actual fact, probably the most aggressive compound on Sunday. Ultimately, all of Leclerc’s hopes had been using on only a few laps earlier than the second and last cease.
However these potentialities had been swept away by the Security Automotive, which not solely modified the technique but additionally shifted all the outlook of a race with a variety of potential. After the Security Automotive got here out, Ferrari went with what they believed was the most secure choice — the exhausting compound — as they didn’t suppose they may cowl the remaining distance on the smooth. In the meantime, Mercedes opted for a extra aggressive method.
‘With the Security Automotive, we had no selection: for us, doing 24 laps on the smooth was bold, however for Mercedes, it paid off,” stated Vasseur. “The monitor was in all probability extra rubbered-in and cooler. I feel our preliminary technique was good — we paid a little bit of a value within the first stint by having to increase it, however then our tempo was robust, and it might have been an ideal race with out the Security Automotive. However we will’t complain — it’s a part of the sport.’
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