Charles Leclerc stakes his claim as Ferrari’s team leader with Bahrain move. Charles Leclerc showcased growing leadership at Ferrari during the Bahrain Grand Prix,.

Ferrari See Signs of Progress Despite Missing Podium at Bahrain Grand Prix

Ferrari may still be chasing their first Sunday podium of the season, but the Bahrain Grand Prix offered several encouraging signs for the Scuderia as they continue refining their 2025 Formula 1 campaign.

Charles Leclerc started the race from the front row of the grid, a position he secured partly thanks to a one-place penalty handed to George Russell. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton was forced to begin from ninth after struggling to match his teammate’s performance in qualifying, unable to extract the same speed from the SF-25.

While Leclerc’s starting position raised hopes, Ferrari were under no illusions that a win was within reach, given the raw pace advantage held by rivals. Still, the team nearly executed a successful strategy — a trend that has become more common under the leadership of team principal Fred Vasseur.

Ferrari’s strategic decision to extend their first stint on medium tyres offered them a strong mid-race window. It reflected an overall improvement in race management compared to previous seasons. However, a safety car deployed at the ideal moment for Piastri and the frontrunners ultimately disrupted Ferrari’s plan. Both the Monegasque and the Briton were forced to settle for fourth and fifth, respectively — a result that still marked the team’s best points haul so far this season. Nevertheless, Charles Leclerc expressed frustration over losing a podium spot to Lando Norris in the closing laps.

Charles Leclerc Emerges as a Tactical Voice for Ferrari in Bahrain

Leclerc’s race strategy in Bahrain also highlighted his evolving role within the team. By opting for an offset strategy, he denied Oscar Piastri the chance to complete a career grand slam — leading every lap from pole to victory.

More significantly, the Monegasque was heard multiple times over team radio urging Ferrari to consider switching to the ‘delta’ strategy. Just before his first pit stop, he pleaded with engineers to reconsider their approach. Despite his insistence, Ferrari stuck to their preferred ‘bravo’ strategy.

BBC Sport journalist Andrew Benson commented during coverage that Charles Leclerc’s radio tone this year reflects a noticeable change. Where he once came across as passive, Leclerc now seems more assertive, suggesting a clear desire to take on greater leadership responsibility. Although the team didn’t follow his suggestion, Benson noted it was compelling to hear Leclerc trying to assert more influence.

Given Charles Leclerc’s familiarity with Ferrari, it’s only natural that he steps into a guiding role, especially with Hamilton still adjusting to his new environment. With the gap in qualifying performance growing, it may be beneficial for Hamilton to take cues from his teammate’s set-up decisions.

Charles Leclerc Demands More from Ferrari as Title Aspirations Fade

After just four races, the Monegasque finds himself 45 points behind championship leader Lando Norris. For perspective, he ended the 2024 season 81 points adrift of Max Verstappen — and that included Verstappen dominating early with seven wins from the first ten races.

Speaking in the post-race press conference, Charles Leclerc emphasized that he had no regrets about the Bahrain performance but acknowledged the need for improved pace. He explained that while both stints showed promise, the safety car erased their advantage, and from the restart, they simply couldn’t match the speed of the McLarens or Russell’s Mercedes.

Charles Leclerc pointed out that the car lacked grip across the board rather than struggling in specific corners, and looked ahead to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah as a crucial opportunity to evaluate Ferrari’s recent upgrade package in more detail.

Disappointment lingered among fans, particularly after early race data revealed performance issues with Charles Leclerc’s car. Despite the fact that the Maranello team has introduced their first major update of the 2025 F1 campaign — including a revised floor — the team still appears to be a step behind McLaren in the performance race. More progress will be needed if Ferrari hopes to contend consistently at the front.