After securing a front row start thanks to George Russell’s penalty, Charles Leclerc was hoping for a podium in the Bahrain GP, which would have been Ferrari’s first of the season. Instead, the Monegasque driver finished fourth, behind the two McLarens and the Mercedes driver, while awaiting the stewards’ decision on the “DRS case”.
Sakhir marked Ferrari’s best race of 2025 in terms of points scored. In terms of performance, however, several issues with the SF-25 remain, as also acknowledged by the Ferrari team members themselves. After the fourth Grand Prix of the season, Fred Vasseur revealed the current gap separating the Leclerc-Hamilton duo from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc’s disappointed words
Appearing before the microphones looking rather dejected, Charles Leclerc commented on his Ferrari’s performance in the Bahrain GP, also touching on the strategy employed. “We did what we had agreed on from the start. Personally, I had a different view at a certain point in the race and would have gone for a one-stop strategy. Then, with the Safety Car, the two-stop strategy became mandatory. As for the tyre choice, I think the softs degraded too much, so the hard was the only option,” said the Monegasque.
“As of today, the difference with Mercedes is that they have a more complete car. As soon as I caught up with George Russell, I started to suffer from overheating, and that made everything more difficult. Up to that point though, I was feeling quite good in the car. In the second stint we were in the right window, but on the hards I wasn’t fast,” he then added at the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was held earlier today at the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.
“Obviously I hope to be fighting for podiums and wins again soon. Finishing fourth is disappointing, especially when you give it your all. We gave everything, but for now that’s not enough, and that’s why I’m not smiling,” concluded the number 16.
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