The Bahrain Grand Prix was gained, as anticipated, by a McLaren MCL39 automobile. Oscar Piastri continued his regular development, dominated from begin to end, and as soon as once more outperformed an inconsistent Lando Norris. Ferrari tried proper as much as the top to succeed in the rostrum with the instruments at present at its disposal, with Charles Leclerc persevering with to offer his all. There was additionally a small present of pleasure from Lewis Hamilton, who completed solely fifth however confirmed glimpses of tempo throughout the second stint.
The Maranello workforce delivered its finest race of the 2025 Method 1 season. In fact, that didn’t take a lot, contemplating the disastrous Sundays firstly of the brand new championship, though a small signal of progress had been seen within the Japanese Grand Prix. The up to date flooring may need helped in that regard, although solely by a couple of hundredths of a second — no less than that was the warning given by workforce principal Frederic Vasseur after the race.
It was a Grand Prix by which Ferrari took a danger, making an attempt one thing totally different with tyre technique: each Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton began on new medium tyres, whereas all others have been on used softs. This distinction positioned the Monegasque driver at a transparent drawback firstly, as he was overtaken by each George Russell and Lando Norris. The latter made a robust begin, aided by an incorrect grid place, which earned him a five-second penalty that was served on the first pit cease.
The 2 SF-25 automobiles didn’t lengthen the primary stint a lot past these on softs, coming into the pits collectively and conserving the yellow-marked compound for the second a part of the Bahrain Grand Prix. This opened up an vital window for monitor place for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who have been undoubtedly the quickest on monitor within the second stint. Then a Security Automotive was deployed following a collision between Yuki Tsunoda and Carlso Sainz, which left particles on the monitor and successfully ruined the Maranello workforce’s plans on the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain Worldwide Circuit in Sakhir.
Certainly, the ultimate stint would doubtless have been on delicate tyres, one thing the SF-25 automobiles most likely couldn’t have dealt with for round 25 laps — or no less than that was what these instantly concerned claimed. At that time, with the Security Automotive on monitor, everybody pitted for brand new tyres, and Ferrari returned to the Bahrain circuit on arduous tyres, at a transparent drawback in comparison with the McLaren automobiles, who have been on new mediums and in addition towards the Mercedes W16 automobile of George Russell on softs.
Charles Leclerc was then third behind Oscar Piastri and George Russell, however forward of Lando Norris. He did every thing doable to carry the place towards the Briton, who finally prevailed a couple of laps from the top, after what was nonetheless a high quality defensive effort by Ferrari’s quantity 16. However there was little he might do towards McLaren’s superior efficiency and Lando Norris’s more energizing, more practical tyres, as the present championship chief had the sting. Similar to on the Suzuka circuit in Japan, Ferrari gave every thing, nevertheless it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient.
Charles Leclerc defined that the technique was the one that they had deliberate, however he had imagined the race unfolding in a different way, particularly within the opening laps — he had thought a one-stop technique may need been doable. With the Security Automotive, which clearly couldn’t be predicted, essentially the most logical possibility grew to become two stops. He mentioned they suffered loads with degradation and have been pressured to suit arduous tyres, as a result of with softs they might by no means have made it to the top.
The Monegasque driver admitted that Mercedes had a extra full automobile within the Bahrain weekend, which allowed George Russell to be extra daring. Ferrari has given every thing, however sadly it as soon as once more is just not sufficient. Till he ended up behind George Russell, the sensation with the automobile had been good. From that time on, nevertheless, the tyres started to overheat, and he might not drive the best way he wished.
Even the primary stint was not dangerous, although the steadiness wasn’t good. Within the second, that they had improved a bit, however with the hards they hadn’t discovered the rhythm they have been hoping for. Charles Leclerc mentioned he hoped to return to preventing for the rostrum quickly. Ending fourth after giving every thing was disappointing; he couldn’t smile on the finish of the day, although he knew they did their utmost. But it surely was nonetheless not sufficient.
Lewis Hamilton accomplished his finest race since turning into a Ferrari driver — not counting the Dash Race win, which remained his solely actual spotlight thus far. Fifth place actually wouldn’t thrill the tifosi, nevertheless it did go a way towards dispelling the problems the Briton himself had acknowledged the day earlier than. His dejection had been clear — the sensation with the SF-25 nonetheless wasn’t there, and there was lots of work to do, particularly as Charles Leclerc was managing to extract extra efficiency at this stage, assuming the position of workforce chief.
Nevertheless, that second stint, throughout which Lewis Hamilton was as quick as his teammate in Bahrain, must develop into a place to begin and supply the arrogance that’s at present missing.
Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that total, it had been a strong race. The seven-time Method 1 world champion obtained off to a good begin, gained a couple of positions within the early phases, and felt aggressive particularly within the center stint on mediums, throughout which he had additionally managed some good overtakes. The tempo was sturdy, and he had been in a position to push whereas sustaining constant lap occasions — one thing he hadn’t managed in earlier races.
The Briton famous that the automobile steadiness had worsened barely within the remaining laps on hards, however total he was happy. He thanked the workforce, saying the technique and pit stops had been executed completely and had made an actual distinction for him. That they had gathered vital knowledge over the weekend and supposed to strategy Jeddah in the identical approach. The British driver additionally thanked the followers for his or her ongoing assist, which he mentioned was really important.
Lewis Hamilton admitted he hadn’t anticipated issues to go so poorly within the opening races, nor that the efficiency could be so disappointing. He didn’t think about his capability to adapt would fluctuate a lot. Lewis Hamilton hopes he did no less than present that he nonetheless had one thing inside, and that his aim now was to attract much more from that potential.
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Apr 14, 2025
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