F1 Testing in Bahrain | Ferrari, Leclerc: "Mercedes and Red Bull are slightly ahead of everyone else at the moment."

from Sakhir - Charles Leclerc concluded the first week of testing with the Ferrari. He's on track right now Lewis Hamilton to complete the work of the Maranello team. Up to this point, nothing seems to have gone wrong with the SF-26, but it is extremely complicated to be able to make judgments. The Monegasque driver met the journalists present in Bahrain for a chat.

“My opinion of these machines is improving, without a doubt – Charles told the media, including MotorionlineThe starting point was very far from what I was used to in my career. It's a huge change for Formula 1. There's less opportunity to attack in the corners, and that was precisely what I liked most about previous cars. Now it's different. But we're still trying to fully understand these cars: there are many new systems, and as drivers we have to learn to manage them to extract the maximum potential. There's a lot of work to do, but the situation is evolving positively."

“Where are we at? I think everyone is trying to shift focus onto others, and that's normal at this time of year. It's very difficult to understand the real performance. It was already difficult with the previous generation of cars, but now with hybrids and an even more decisive electric component, there are so many adjustments that allow the true potential to be hidden. It's complicated to understand exactly where we are.”

“What makes me happy is that we're following our program without any reliability issues. Everything is proceeding as expected, and that's a good starting point. Red Bull has shown some very interesting things regarding the power unit, especially here in Bahrain. Mercedes has also shown some important signs, although I think they're hiding something. Right now, I'd say Red Bull and Mercedes are slightly ahead, followed by us, but the gap doesn't seem huge.”

“It's certainly not the most fun car I've ever driven. But that's the way things are, and I try to find pleasure in a different way. The challenge of developing a completely new system is stimulating and interesting. I enjoy exploring solutions that wouldn't have worked in the past, but that can make a difference today. The pure pleasure of driving has changed, but the technical challenge motivates me.”

As Formula 1 drivers, we always have to adapt. This year, the change is more marked than in the past, but above all, the mental load has increased. The percentage of pure driving has decreased slightly, while the focus on systems management has increased. You have to think a lot more while behind the wheel. In terms of driving style, we're used to changing our approach between qualifying and the race; this year, it's simply a different way of interpreting driving.

Ferrari, Leclerc: "It's extremely difficult to overtake at the moment."

How do you manage energy? Leclerc won't go into detail: "I can't go into detail. Every team has a different approach, and we're all trying to shift the workload as much as possible to the systems rather than the driver. It's a delicate balance: some things you'd rather not have to manage directly, because it's difficult to optimize them with human sensitivity alone. Beyond the hardware, like the engine and power unit, there's a lot of work on the software and driver integration. It's a very personal aspect, and we're working to make it as natural as possible from the first race."

"It's extremely difficult to overtake at the moment. We've done some testing, and I agree with other drivers. Each attempt costs a lot more energy than in the past, and this makes it difficult to attack and then build a lead. Perhaps it will improve with experience and better situation management."

Finally, a lot of chaos is expected at the first race: “Yes, I expect it. The starting procedure is more complex, and despite the simulations, nothing can replicate the unpredictability of a race start. At that moment, you don't have complete control over the trajectory or pace; you also depend on the others. There are still many question marks, and the start is one of them. There could be some surprises in the first races of the season.”