Charles Leclerc is causing concern for Sergio Perez with his confidence in the inherent speed of Ferrari, after being threatened by Carlos Sainz to hold onto second position.
Leclerc faced persistent issues with locking up the front tires in turns nine and ten, resulting in a significant loss of time and allowing his teammate Sainz to overtake him and secure Ferrari’s top spot.
Although Leclerc managed to secure fourth place ahead of Russell, this provided little consolation for the experienced five-time Grand Prix winner. Leclerc expressed disappointment, believing Ferrari had untapped potential. “All things considered, finishing fourth is a commendable effort,” he admitted. “But I am extremely disappointed with the results. I truly believe second place could have been achieved today.”
Reflecting on the Bahrain GP, Leclerc stated: “I don’t think there is anything positive to take from my race. I was quite surprised when I heard the pace at the end of the race, because we were putting in relatively good laps with a car that seemed completely unbalanced.”
Leclerc’s confidence in Ferrari’s underlying speed raises concerns for Perez, who managed to fend off Sainz to hold onto second place. Christian Horner’s Red Bull still faces uncertainties as the FIA intervenes.
While a strong start to the season is promising for Perez, the narrow margins between the leading teams demand consistent second-place results to replicate last season’s one-two finish in the Drivers’ Championship.
As he approaches the final year of his contract with Red Bull, the 34-year-old Mexican faces pressure from competitors like Ricciardo and Tsunoda, who are eyeing his seat until the end of the season. Perez is hopeful that Leclerc’s theory does not come true, while teams prepare for the next stage in Saudi Arabia.
