Bahrain was extra convincing than Japan and gave us an fascinating race. The evaluation of the race tempo from the highest groups confirms that McLaren remains to be superior, however the others aren’t standing nonetheless. Piastri appeared untouchable for everybody: the common hole in race tempo in comparison with Norris is critical, round 4 tenths per lap. The hole from McLaren to Mercedes and Ferrari is about half a second, whereas the hole to Crimson Bull is nearly a second per lap.
The Bahrain Grand Prix turned out to be a fertile floor for McLaren, which, due to a secure rear finish and wonderful traction, tailored completely to the traits of the observe.
The protection automobile disrupted the groups’ plans, particularly Ferrari’s, which opted for a technique totally different from the opposite high groups. Not like their rivals who began with smooth tires, Ferrari selected to begin with medium tires, aiming for a single cease after which ending the race with onerous tires.
First Stint
At first, Ferrari’s alternative was an obstacle: the efficiency increase provided by the smooth tires helped everybody else, whereas the Ferrari drivers struggled.
Within the first stint, McLaren confirmed its pace, though Norris was busy making up locations after beginning in sixth. Mercedes confirmed excessive consistency, with George Russell being the quickest after Oscar Piastri, whereas Antonelli couldn’t match his teammate’s tempo. Max Verstappen was out of rivalry from Friday: the RB21 proved tough to handle, and the group additionally made errors within the pits. Ferrari’s race tempo wasn’t spectacular: Hamilton struggled, whereas Leclerc held onto 4th till his pit cease.
The primary driver to cease was Norris on lap 10, adopted by Russell on lap 13, and Oscar Piastri on lap 14. Charles Leclerc, on medium tires, prolonged his stint however solely stopped three laps after Oscar Piastri, who was on softs.
The race tempo of the highest groups. Photograph: Filippo Pesavento. Supply: f1ingenerale
Second Stint: Ferrari the Quickest
The second stint proved essential. Ferrari mounted a brand new set of mediums, being the quickest on observe, however this pressured them to cease once more. Max Verstappen, who had switched to onerous tires on lap 10, confirmed weak tempo on the more durable compound, pushing Ferrari to rethink its technique and abandon the concept of a single pit cease. With more energizing tires, Ferrari confirmed good tempo, climbing up the standings with each drivers. The second stint was encouraging for Lewis Hamilton: the motive force managed to recuperate 5 positions on observe, due to a automobile really feel that he described as having modified “in a single day” in comparison with the primary stint.
Nonetheless, a security automobile on lap 32 interrupted the stint and overturned the technique, forcing everybody into one other pit cease.
Third Stint
Within the last stint, groups opted for various methods: each McLaren drivers mounted the medium tires, Russell took a threat with softs, whereas the 2 Ferraris went for hards. Ferrari’s alternative appeared logical: unable to mount the mediums once more as a result of laws, and fearing smooth tire degradation, the onerous tire was the one viable possibility. Nonetheless, the drawback of the tire compound was clear, and Ferrari struggled to take care of tempo.
Oscar Piastri remained untouchable, whereas Russell managed the smooth tire completely with a quick and constant race tempo. Norris, in 4th, handed Charles Leclerc on the finish of the race, with the latter unable to defend towards the McLaren on medium tires. After passing Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris tried to problem George Russell, however the high-downforce setup of the MCL39 damage him on the straights, forcing him to accept third.
Max Verstappen, regardless of a difficult race, nonetheless completed forward of Hamilton, who continues to wrestle with discovering confidence in his SF-25.
The Security Automobile Ruined Ferrari’s Technique
The gaps on the finish of the race have been influenced by the security automobile, so the hole between McLaren and the others would have undoubtedly been bigger. This doesn’t take away from a powerful Mercedes and a recovering Ferrari, which had its greatest weekend to this point.
The protection automobile undoubtedly ruined Ferrari’s technique: the group might have made higher use of the medium tire within the second stint and stretched the stint sufficient to mount the softs on the finish, which might have given them a efficiency benefit and probably allowed them to problem for the rostrum.
The image after the fourth race is beginning to take form: McLaren is the most effective, with Mercedes because the second power. Ferrari remains to be to be discovered, however reacted properly on an unfavorable observe. Crimson Bull stays the large query mark, struggling even with Max Verstappen, as the issues with the RB21 are beginning to present extra clearly.
Supply: f1ingenerale
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