Test F1 | Leclerc flies in Bahrain but keeps a low profile for Ferrari in Melbourne
Charles Leclerc finished in first position at the end of the Bahrain Formula 1 test, yet he is keeping a low profile regarding Ferrari’s prospects for the season opener in Melbourne.
Leclerc looked truly unleashed at the wheel of the Ferrari SF-26 on the final day of testing in Bahrain. During the morning session, the Monegasque driver completed a highly impressive race simulation, achieved with track temperatures reaching 45°C. His dominant run then continued in the afternoon, where he initially began his programme more calmly than the other teams before attacking the qualifying simulation phase.
Charles set a 1:31.992 lap time on the C4 compound, finishing nine tenths clear of Lando Norris, who was running on the C3 tyre. Not only that, but the four lap times recorded immediately afterwards were all quicker than Norris’ best effort. In effect, Charles Leclerc secured the five fastest laps of the entire test, a clear sign of a competitive Ferrari SF-26 and possibly also an increase in available power from the Maranello power unit.
Leclerc’s words
Once again, what stands out is the total number of laps completed by the SF-26, which crossed the finish line 132 times today alone. The reliability of the Ferrari engine appears to be extremely solid. The Monegasque driver commented on the day’s running: “This test day was very smooth, we completed our programme and tried everything we had planned.”
Despite the headline lap times, Charles refrained from making bold claims about the competitive order: “In terms of performance, it is still difficult to understand where we really stand. This is because teams tend not to show their true potential. So it is important not to focus too much on lap times and to prepare in the best possible way for the first race.”
The data gathered by Ferrari and Charles Leclerc during these days of testing in Bahrain will be crucial for the opening race and for the remainder of the season. “We will proceed step by step, trying to understand how to extract the maximum from our car. We have a lot of data to analyse before arriving in Melbourne, and we will see how things go once we are there,” the Monegasque driver concluded.
While the timesheets suggest a Ferrari advantage, Charles Leclerc’s cautious stance mirrors the mood in the garage. The SF-26 has proven it has both the reliability for long stints and the “one-lap” magic required for pole position, but the true test of this pace will only come under the lights of the first competitive qualifying session of the year.
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