Charles Leclerc’s confidence in Ferrari’s inherent speed is causing worry for Sergio Perez, who narrowly held off Carlos Sainz to maintain second position.
Leclerc encountered persistent issues with locking his front tires at turns nine and 10, resulting in significant time loss and allowing his teammate Sainz to overtake and secure the leading Ferrari spot.
Although Leclerc managed to secure fourth place ahead of Russell, it provided little consolation for the experienced five-time Grand Prix winner. Leclerc expressed disappointment, believing that Ferrari had untapped potential. “Considering everything, finishing fourth is a commendable effort,” he admitted. “But I’m extremely disappointed with the results. I genuinely believe that second place could have been achievable today.”
Reflecting on the Bahrain GP, Leclerc stated, “I don’t think there’s anything positive to take away from my race. I was quite surprised when I heard the pace towards the end of the race because we were setting relatively good lap times with a car that felt completely out of sync.”
Leclerc’s confidence in Ferrari’s underlying speed raises concerns for Perez, who narrowly fended off Sainz to maintain second place. Christian Horner’s #RedBull still faces uncertainty as the #FIA steps in.
While a strong start to the season is promising for Perez, the narrowing margins between the top teams require consistent second-place finishes to replicate last season’s one-two finish in the Drivers’ Championship.
Approaching the final year of his Red Bull contract, the 34-year-old Perez faces pressure from contenders like Ricciardo and Tsunoda, who are vying for his seat by the end of the season. Perez places his hopes on Leclerc’s theory not becoming a reality as the teams prepare for the next round in Saudi Arabia.