Leclerc was the sole driver capable of challenging Max Verstappen during qualifying in Bahrain, but despite his efforts, he was unable to secure pole position. Nevertheless, he remained determined to make up for it during the race on Saturday.
Unfortunately, it became evident from the start of the race that the #16 Ferrari was struggling. It was overtaken by George Russell from Mercedes, Sergio Perez from Red Bull, and eventually Carlos Sainz from the #55 Ferrari.
Leclerc’s performance was erratic, as he continuously locked up his front brakes. After the race, he revealed that he had been facing an issue with inconsistent brake temperatures between the left and right sides of the car.
He stated, “The brake problem was impossible to ignore in the first 15 laps, and it only worsened with each passing lap. Around lap 15 or 20, the issue finally stabilized. The team informed me via radio that there was a temperature difference of over 100 degrees between the front right and front left brakes, which is a significant gap. At that point, I realized that the best course of action was to bring the car home. I struggled to navigate corners nine and ten for a few laps, experiencing imbalanced handling and frequent lock-ups. I made significant adjustments in an attempt to rectify the situation.”
Leclerc expressed his frustration with his first race of the season, stating, “It has been an incredibly frustrating race. I had been eagerly anticipating this race for a long time, hoping to showcase our capabilities. Unfortunately, due to the imbalanced brake system and overall car performance, I was unable to demonstrate what we were truly capable of. We need to thoroughly analyze where things went wrong to ensure that this issue does not reoccur.”
Despite his disappointment, Leclerc managed to finish ahead of George Russell from Mercedes, securing fourth place. He found some satisfaction in this result, but believed that second place could have been within reach.
Reflecting on Leclerc’s struggles, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur commented, “Charles faced difficulties with the brakes throughout the entire race, which led to him flat-spotting his tires during the first stint. Consequently, we had to pit him earlier than planned. We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine why the brakes did not reach the correct temperature.”
The battle between Carlos and Charles was truly remarkable!