Within the 2025 System 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, Ferrari confirmed combined alerts throughout the varied stints of the race. Whereas the SF-25 single-seater benefited from the medium tires in the course of the center part of the Sakhir race, it confronted important difficulties with the onerous compound in direction of the top, particularly in managing the rear finish. Particularly, the Maranello automotive initially had a big benefit within the sooner sections.
This attribute pale within the remaining stage of the Bahrain Grand Prix. To be able to higher perceive the causes, we analyze a comparability of the typical pace between the primary and final stints of the race, evaluating the 2 Ferrari drivers, alongside Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. The comparability goals to spotlight the variations in gasoline ranges, that are contrasted by way of a extra full evaluation.
Within the first stint, by analyzing the telemetry knowledge, we will see that Max Verstappen, because of the slipstreams in the midst of the pack, is the quickest on the finish of the primary straight. The four-time System 1 world champion, with the assistance of the drag discount system, has an Finish of Straight Pace that’s 30 kilometers per hour sooner than Oscar Piastri. An analogous dynamic happens within the second part of the circuit, with the Dutchman managing to construct a spot of about half a second earlier than the braking zone of flip 4.
Nonetheless, as could be seen from the telemetry knowledge, the world champion loses all of the benefit gained in turns 4 and eight, the place he’s pressured to brake earlier and undertake a extra conservative method in traction. Charles Leclerc, however, maximizes the deceleration part in flip 1, gaining round two tenths simply on this sector. Moreover, the Monegasque driver is much less conservative within the snake part and switch 12, the place — just like Lewis Hamilton — he carries extra pace.
These high-G corners are very taxing on the tires, which have a tendency to lift the tread temperature. Each Ferrari drivers took benefit of the Pirelli yellow-banded tire, which, because of its building, is much less vulnerable to temperature will increase on account of lateral forces. As additionally seen from the telemetry knowledge, within the lengthy flip 12, Charles Leclerc modulates the throttle much less and positive factors a couple of tenth over Oscar Piastri.
Unable to utilize many slipstreams, the Australian driver optimizes the benefit of unpolluted air, carrying larger pace by way of the middle of the corners. It is usually attention-grabbing to notice that he’s extra cautious in the course of the braking part between turns 1 and 4. With the entrance axle colder after the 2 straights, the McLaren driver adopts a extra conservative method, exhibiting a faster brake launch part in corners 8, 11, and 13. In these sections, the tire temperatures are larger and supply extra grip throughout turn-in.
Shifting focus to the ultimate stage of the Bahrain Grand Prix, with lighter automobiles, it’s noticed that Max Verstappen’s place in the midst of the pack as soon as once more favored his high pace. Essentially the most attention-grabbing knowledge comes from the comparability between the 2 Ferrari automobiles and Oscar Piastri. With onerous tires, the Maranello automobiles struggled probably the most within the remaining part of the race. The info reveals that the primary challenge was the rear finish on exit.
The rear was unable to supply sufficient grip to stabilize the automotive. This lack of steadiness was brought on by a really imprecise entrance finish throughout turn-in, which triggered extreme sliding on exit. For that reason, probably the most important areas — the place Oscar Piastri gained probably the most floor — had been the exits from the slower corners.
Furthermore, because of the weaker rear finish, the benefit we beforehand mentioned within the sooner sections was not current. Each within the snake and at flip 12, it was Oscar Piastri who reached the very best speeds earlier than the braking zones, though he was in a part of managing his F1 automotive in flip 12, the place he modulated the throttle extra.
Charles Leclerc’s try to defend the rostrum seemingly accelerated the efficiency drop of the onerous tires in direction of the top of the race on the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain Worldwide Circuit in Sakhir. This issue was subtly talked about by the Monegasque in some post-race feedback. The battle between Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris and the one between Charles Leclerc and his defenders prevented the drivers from sustaining a robust tempo within the remaining laps, though, in any case, the onerous tires don’t swimsuit the Italian automotive.
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