In Bahrain FP2, Ferrari confirmed combined indicators. Leclerc highlighted good tyre degradation, particularly within the ultimate a part of his stint on the medium compound, managing to enhance his lap occasions and displaying a secure SF-25 in quick corners. A superb signal looking forward to Sunday. In distinction, Hamilton struggled with rear-end administration, with grip points that led to overheating tyres.
The SF-25 loses 4 tenths to Piastri regardless of a compound benefit
Analyzing the info charts, there’s no main efficiency distinction between Ferrari and McLaren: Piastri and Norris carried out simulations at reverse ends of the spectrum, testing the intense compounds supplied by Pirelli. This allowed the engineers to evaluate degradation and collect extra helpful knowledge for race technique preparation. Oscar accomplished a shorter stint, displaying a bonus primarily within the early part.
Moreover, the Australian switched compounds to match his teammate—utilizing the Mushy—within the ultimate a part of the session. On that tyre, Lando Norris was by far the quickest on observe, finishing 5 laps with a median time of 1’37”. It’s value noting that the McLaren drivers had been working with much less gas, making it simpler to extract efficiency from the red-banded Pirelli compound.
Ferrari selected to dedicate a smaller portion of the session to high-fuel simulations. As a substitute, they most well-liked to enhance the automobile’s setup for single-lap tempo, although with out acquiring any specific profit. Among the many two drivers, Lewis Hamilton discovered himself in better problem.
The Brit clearly struggled with rear-end administration, each on low-fuel runs and through lengthy runs. The observe circumstances, markedly completely different from these of testing, appear ill-suited to the Englishman’s driving type. Lewis suffered from an absence of grip, forcing the tyres into excessively excessive slip angles, which triggered them to overheat.
The Ferrari has much less tempo, however is the one one stabilizing degradation
That is additionally confirmed by the telemetry knowledge associated to the degradation, which reveals Lewis Hamilton needing a major step ahead, aided by some setup modifications, to carry out correctly within the race. Russell tailored higher to the extremely demanding observe floor in comparison with teammate Antonelli. Kimi, though aided by the winter testing carried out on the Sakhir circuit, didn’t handle tyre put on on the softer compounds as successfully as his teammate.
Russell, against this, skilled tyre put on just like Norris, and extra constant than the McLaren driver. Verstappen’s common time, in the meantime, is affected by the size of his stint. The world champion’s assault time and subsequent laps had been slower than his rivals’, seemingly attributable to the next gas load and a extra conservative strategy.
Nevertheless, the tyre degradation proven by the world champion is probably the most attention-grabbing facet of Pink Bull’s efficiency, given the workforce’s well-known potential to fine-tune setups. Max was probably the most constant in enhancing lap occasions, and, supplied he qualifies properly, appears the one one able to difficult the McLarens within the race. As for Leclerc, and Ferrari normally, it’s tough to quantify how a lot the closely mentioned ground updates have helped the drivers’ efficiency.
On the yellow compound, Leclerc was the one one capable of decrease his tempo within the ultimate a part of his stint after three regular laps. That’s an encouraging signal, even when the general tempo is slower than McLaren’s. Observing the automobile on observe, the trip heights don’t seem to have modified a lot, remaining in line with these seen in Japan. Solely by means of simulation will engineers perceive if they’ll decrease the SF-25 to get better downforce.
Charles Leclerc maximizes efficiency in quick sections
Lastly, let’s take a look at the typical telemetry knowledge gathered throughout the long term. On medium tyres, Charles Leclerc posted higher occasions within the ultimate two sectors in comparison with Norris, who serves because the benchmark. Specifically, the Ferrari appears to have opted—not less than with the Monegasque—for an aerodynamic setup that maximizes cornering velocity, at the price of some top-end velocity on the straights.
Leclerc is the very best within the quickest elements of the circuit; specifically, the SF-25 is superb by means of Flip 12, the place automobile quantity 16 carries 12 km/h greater than his teammate and about 10 km/h greater than rivals. Mercedes, however, fine-tuned the setup specializing in traction out of corners and, normally, on larger common velocity within the high-speed straight sections.
As seen on this early part of the season, the Brackley workforce hits the observe with a lower-downforce aerodynamic setup and a softer rear finish. The same strategy was additionally adopted by McLaren, which reveals glorious high velocity even when barely extra loaded, although paying the value mid-corner in quick bends. This affected tyre degradation for the reigning champions, as confirmed by Norris’ complaints.
Ferrari is coping with two completely different conditions. Charles Leclerc has discovered the correct route, whereas Hamilton has struggled. The Brit wanted to do a strong comparability together with his teammate’s references and perceive the place to enhance. Moreover, the Italian workforce would possibly help him by “tailoring” the automobile extra to his driving type to unlock the untapped potential seen throughout free follow.
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