Charles Leclerc found himself acknowledging the harsh reality after just missing the podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Starting the race in second position, Leclerc seemed poised for a promising result. However, the initial optimism faded rapidly as he was overtaken by George Russell and later by Lando Norris, dashing his hopes for a top-three finish.
Leclerc, reflecting on the race, candidly admitted, “We’re just not fast enough.” He described how Ferrari’s performance issues persistently hindered them. During the first stint, they managed to push slightly harder, and while the second stint saw some improvement due to tire degradation, it proved insufficient in the long run.
The competitive pace was lacking throughout, leaving Leclerc and his team grappling with strategies that never quite worked out in their favor. He mentioned how, even when on fresher tires, the timing of the safety car wasn’t advantageous. Despite having an apparent edge over some drivers, Leclerc didn’t believe it would have significantly changed the race outcome.
Leclerc expressed frustration with the limitation in pace, which placed them at a disadvantage irrespective of their strategy. He found himself struggling behind Russell, with overheated tires preventing any bold moves. Leclerc remained realistic about the situation, concluding that their performance decisions were reasonable with the resources at hand, yet acknowledged others managed to maintain their tires longer.
Despite the challenges, Leclerc remains determined to learn from the experience and focus on improving the car’s pace for future races.
The Bahrain Grand Prix highlighted Ferrari’s ongoing challenges, with Charles Leclerc’s candid reflections emphasizing the need for improvements. The quest for speed and strategic success continues.
