Charles Leclerc narrowly missed the podium in Bahrain as Hamilton showed steady progress, adapting better to Ferrari’s evolving challenges.
Ferrari showed signs of progress in Bahrain, but it wasn’t quite enough for Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth — just one spot shy of the podium.
The Monegasque driver pushed to the limit but admitted that fourth place was realistically the best Ferrari could achieve with the current performance of the SF-25.
“I gave everything until the very end. That’s what makes it even more frustrating — when you push hard and still finish P4,” Leclerc told Canal+. “Honestly, I don’t think we could have done much better today. We’re just not where we need to be performance-wise.”
Leclerc also downplayed his strong qualifying result, saying it may have flattered Ferrari’s true pace.
“My lap on Saturday was probably a bit better than what the car’s really capable of. I stitched everything together, but if you compare theoretical best sectors, we weren’t P3. That’s where we are right now — I’m glad we made the most of the race, but missing the podium still hurts.”
Ferrari was the only team in the top 10 to start on medium tyres — a bold call that Leclerc still believes was the right one. However, a poor start cost him track position early on.
“I was confident with the medium tyres. We couldn’t have done what others did on softs, so I don’t regret that strategy. The problem was the start — we lost two spots, and that made the rest of the race tougher. It’s connected, but the issue was the launch, not the tyres.”
Hamilton Closes Gap, Leclerc Left Frustrated Again
On the other side of the paddock, Lewis Hamilton finished fifth after starting ninth — a solid recovery that left him cautiously optimistic.
“It was a good race. I got everything I could out of the car, but clearly, I’m still a step behind Charles in the same machine — especially in qualifying,” Hamilton admitted.
He praised Ferrari’s race strategy and pit stops, but pointed to braking and car setup as areas where he’s still adapting.
“I’ve been driving one way for so long with one team, and now I’m in a completely different car that needs a new driving style and different setups. It’s a big shift.”
“I’m using engine braking now, which I didn’t touch last year. The braking system is new too — Brembo instead of Carbone Industries, which I used for about 15 years.”
Despite the learning curve, Hamilton says he’s getting closer to finding the right balance and understanding how to get the best out of the SF-25.
“Charles sets up his car early and sticks with it. I’ve been chasing the right setup all weekend, which hasn’t helped. By qualifying, I’d closed the gap, but the car still wasn’t quite right.”
“I know I can do better. Jeddah is next, and I’m focused on starting the weekend stronger and staying on track with setup. I’m starting to get a feel for the car now, so I’m confident next weekend can be a real step forward.”
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Leclerc Falls Short as Ferrari Miss Bahrain Podium – Hamilton Closes Gap, Leclerc Falls Short as Ferrari Miss Bahrain Podium – Hamilton Closes Gap,
