Leclerc hopeful Ferrari can ‘close the gap’ with new parts as he sets out expectations for Bahrain Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc is optimistic that Ferrari can reduce the performance gap to their main rivals at the Bahrain Grand Prix, thanks to a new round of car upgrades. Although he doesn’t expect the latest developments to be enough to fully match the pace of teams like McLaren and Red Bull, Leclerc believes they could be a valuable step in the right direction.
Currently sitting fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari’s campaign has been hampered by inconsistent pace and a costly double disqualification for both Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton in China. Despite this, the team is hopeful that updates to the SF-25 car introduced this weekend in Sakhir will help them become more competitive.
“We’ve got some new parts this weekend which I hope will help us reduce the gap,” Leclerc said. “It’s probably not enough to close it completely, but it’s a significant step. The difference between us and McLaren in Suzuka was about three-tenths, and that’s a big margin to erase.”
Leclerc tempered expectations, suggesting Ferrari will likely remain around third or fourth in the pecking order but is confident in the team’s longer-term development plans. “Hopefully, we can be closer, but this upgrade alone won’t put us level with McLaren or Max [Verstappen] just yet,” he added.
Hamilton echoed Leclerc’s cautious optimism. The seven-time world champion expressed enthusiasm about Ferrari’s latest updates, particularly improvements in downforce, which he hopes will translate to a stronger showing in Bahrain.
“I’ve done a lot of driving since testing, so I feel more comfortable in the car now,” Hamilton said. “We’ve got a better understanding of the setup, and I’m feeling good heading into the weekend.”
Both drivers agree that while Bahrain may not immediately deliver a dramatic turnaround, it marks a key opportunity to gather data and continue building momentum toward becoming genuine title contenders later in the season.
