Ferrari will begin the Bahrain Grand Prix on the entrance row with Charles Leclerc. This is good news for the Italian facet in Components 1, as Ferrari is ready to attempt to capitalize on this vital alternative because of the double penalty acquired by the Mercedes drivers. The Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying confirmed the wonderful type of Oscar Piastri, who delivered an impressive efficiency to crown an ideal weekend to this point, 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, absolutely 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 end result realistically achievable in the intervening time. The Monegasque beat his teammate by a full +0.598 seconds.
He did so by confirming that he had discovered a more practical strategy to extract efficiency from a posh and infrequently unpredictable automobile, as we identified on this article. An encouraging signal, contemplating the difficulties confronted within the first three races of the 2025 Components 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 healthier at stitching collectively the racing strains, brushing the within curbs with higher precision. Nevertheless, slight oversteer emerges in some sections of the observe, notably throughout lift-off and transition phases. It is a minor annoyance that barely impacts efficiency, though in some circumstances the Monegasque driver has been in a position to flip this trait to his benefit.
Telemetry information evaluation instantly reveals a vital element within the first sector: Charles Leclerc loses vital floor popping out of Flip 2, a degree the place glorious traction is crucial to be able 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 pink one, demonstrating more practical 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 increased cornering pace (as much as +4 kilometers per hour), the Monegasque driver exits too huge, having to delay throttle utility.
It is a level he and his engineer labored on extensively through the F1 weekend, attempting to maximise entry and mid-corner pace, even at the price of barely sacrificing the exit part. Oscar Piastri, against this, adopts a extra conservative strategy on entry to Flip 4, lifting off sooner than Charles Leclerc. This permits for a a lot cleaner, extra linear, and rapid exit, with glorious steering response.
His racing line seems extra composed, the results of well-centered stability and robust confidence within the rear finish. Persevering with by way of the lap, within the snake part (Turns 5-6-7), the delta nonetheless favors Oscar Piastri, who carries extra pace by way of every nook—as much as +5 kilometers per hour, and particularly navigates these route modifications with outstanding ease. His steering factors exactly the place he desires to go.
This leads to a clear line, with none corrections, permitting him to constantly mount each inside curb. Charles Leclerc’s issue at this part is clear 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 along with his automobile on this a part of the observe.
Heading towards the top of the second sector, Charles Leclerc begins to recuperate some floor, even in corners like Flip 10, the place he was shedding vital 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 few tenth and a half faster than the Ferrari driver.
This hole is sort of solely concentrated in that nook. The McLaren sticks to the observe floor, displaying excellent stability: 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, against this, finds the rear finish too free, with even extreme rotation that, whereas serving to nook entry, complicates throttle reapplication. The identical state of affairs repeats at Flip 13, the place the papaya automobile dominates the micro-sectors. The Ferrari SF-25, although not behaving dramatically, exhibits extra corrections, an indication of a narrower and fewer secure working window in comparison with the McLaren.
Within the ultimate 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 components 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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