The Monegasque expressed disappointment at using two sets of tires in the first qualifying session, which had a negative impact on his performance in the third session. Despite this setback, he acknowledged that overall it was a good qualifying session and a positive start to the year. Compared to the previous year, he believes they are in a better position. However, he emphasized the need to evaluate the race pace for tomorrow’s race.
In the second qualifying session, Leclerc’s lap time was comparable to Max’s in the third session, indicating that the potential was there. However, the use of used tires in the third session disrupted their rhythm and resulted in a minor setback. Nevertheless, Leclerc remains optimistic about their progress and acknowledges that Red Bull is still ahead in terms of race pace.
Turning to the teammate’s car, Carlos Sainz, who is in his final season with Ferrari, secured the fourth fastest time, just a tenth behind his teammate Leclerc. Sainz describes this as a decent qualifying session and expresses confidence in his improved race pace compared to the previous year. He is eager to see where they stand in terms of pace and is determined to start the season positively.
At the beginning of his second season leading Ferrari, Fred Vasseur reflects on his team’s performance during Friday’s events in Bahrain. Despite being in first place during Q1 and Q2, they failed to secure a prominent position in Q3. However, Vasseur remains optimistic about the team’s overall performance, noting that they were competitive in all sessions. Moving forward, they are looking forward to evaluating their performance during the long races and are still uncertain about fuel levels due to the challenges of interpreting winter testing. Vasseur suggests that Red Bull may face more pressure from other teams this year in terms of strategy and setup decisions. Looking ahead to the race, their main focus is on their own performance and ensuring consistent tire degradation. Their goal is to secure as many points as possible and not leave any behind.
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