Ferrari will begin the Bahrain Grand Prix on the entrance row with Charles Leclerc. This is good news for the Italian facet in System 1, as Ferrari is ready to attempt to capitalize on this essential alternative due to the double penalty obtained by the Mercedes drivers. The Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying confirmed the wonderful type of Oscar Piastri, who delivered an excellent efficiency to crown an ideal weekend to date, in full continuity with what had been seen within the final free observe classes.
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 monitor. On the opposite facet, Charles Leclerc introduced his SF-25 to 3rd place—the best outcome realistically achievable for the time being. The Monegasque beat his teammate by a full +0.598 seconds.
He did so by confirming that he had discovered a more practical technique to extract efficiency from a posh and sometimes unpredictable automotive, as we identified on this article. An encouraging signal, contemplating the difficulties confronted within the first three races of the 2025 System 1 season. As already highlighted within the evaluation of the second free observe 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 monitor, 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 an important element within the first sector: Charles Leclerc loses important floor popping out of Flip 2, a degree the place glorious traction is crucial in an effort 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 automotive to settle successfully and launch torque extra progressively.
The “papaya” velocity 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, getting into Flip 4, Charles Leclerc loses one other tenth. Regardless of having increased cornering velocity (as much as +4 kilometers per hour), the Monegasque driver exits too large, having to delay throttle software.
It is a level he and his engineer labored on extensively in the course of the F1 weekend, making an attempt to maximise entry and mid-corner velocity, even at the price of barely sacrificing the exit part. Oscar Piastri, against this, adopts a extra conservative method 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 stability and powerful 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 velocity by means of every nook—as much as +5 kilometers per hour, and particularly navigates these path adjustments with outstanding ease. His steering factors exactly the place he desires to go.
This ends in a clear line, with none corrections, permitting him to constantly mount each inside curb. Charles Leclerc’s problem 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 together with his automotive on this a part of the monitor.
Heading towards the tip of the second sector, Charles Leclerc begins to get well some floor, even in corners like Flip 10, the place he was dropping important traction within the second free observe 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 sort of solely concentrated in that nook. The McLaren sticks to the monitor floor, exhibiting good 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 automotive 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 monitor, as soon as once more, the British automotive 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 best way to the ultimate meter.
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