Analyzing Ferrari’s Bahrain Grand Prix Performance and Strategy

Charles Leclerc, the determined Ferrari driver, expressed his disappointment after finishing fourth in the Bahrain GP. Despite giving his best, he lamented that it wasn’t enough to secure a podium finish. This outcome, while not affecting points significantly, represents a missed opportunity for the Scuderia, which is yet to carve out its place among the pack this season.

The Impact of Safety Car on Ferrari’s Bahrain GP Strategy

The Safety Car intervention at the halfway point of the race proved costly for Ferrari. According to team principal Frederic Vasseur, it came out at the worst possible moment, potentially hindering Leclerc’s chances of a top-3 finish.

Ferrari adopted an unconventional strategy by starting on the medium tyre, a choice that cost Leclerc his second place position just after the start. Although track position is less crucial in Bahrain compared to other circuits, this alternative strategy always comes with risks, especially when stuck in traffic.

The medium compound tyre strategy offered Ferrari strategic flexibility, allowing them to adapt based on race conditions. However, it didn’t provide a significant advantage over Mercedes. Leclerc lost two positions at the start and found himself battling George Russell and Lando Norris for the podium.

The Fork in Ferrari’s Strategy

With two sets of medium tyres available, Leclerc pushed to clock fast laps in the second stint, running about a second quicker than Russell. Mercedes, without a second set of medium tyres, had only two alternatives: switch to the hard compound or manage their pace for a potential second stint on softs.

The seven-lap offset to Leclerc allowed him to close the gap quickly on Norris but made it relatively “easy” for him to get the better of the McLaren driver. However, closing the gap on Russell was a different story due to tyre wear and dirty air issues.

What Could Have Been Without the Safety Car?

Just moments before the Safety Car was released, Leclerc had managed to get within one second of Russell, potentially setting up a decisive overtaking maneuver for a podium finish. However, the Safety Car intervention changed the strategy and shifted the entire outlook of the race, favoring Mercedes with their more aggressive approach.

Without the Safety Car, Leclerc’s hopes would have relied on his ability to overtake Russell, which was far from guaranteed. If he had managed to do so, the podium would have been within reach. However, if he hadn’t, the scenarios would have shifted completely, potentially allowing Norris to capitalize on another set of medium tyres and close the seven-lap offset in the second stint.

In the end, all of Leclerc’s hopes were riding on just a few laps before the second and final stop. But those possibilities were swept away by the Safety Car, which not only changed the strategy but also shifted the entire outlook of a race with a lot of potential. After the Safety Car came out, Ferrari went with what they believed was the safest option — the hard compound — as they didn’t think they could cover the remaining distance on the soft. Meanwhile, Mercedes opted for a more aggressive approach.

Vasseur acknowledged that the Safety Car intervention had a significant impact on the race outcome. He stated, “With the Safety Car, we had no choice: for us, doing 24 laps on the soft was ambitious, but for Mercedes, it paid off.” Despite the setback, he remains optimistic about the team’s initial strategy and believes that without the Safety Car, the Bahrain GP could have been a great race for Ferrari.