Ferrari’s significantly improved performance in qualifying ahead of the season opener Bahrain Grand Prix caught the attention of opposing teams.
Charles Leclerc will be fourth on the grid for today’s race after qualifying within seven tenths of a second from pole winner Max Verstappen. Leclerc’s new team-mate Carlos Sainz Jnr qualified eighth.
While all 10 teams are driving slower than last year due to new aerodynamic restrictions, Ferrari is much closer to its 2020 pace than its competitors.
Ferrari was set to make profits on its new powerplant for 2021, but the team’s overall pace came as a surprise to some of its rivals.
“I’d say, to be honest, the factory team actually took a really impressive step based on today,” said Dave Robson, director of vehicle performance at Williams.
“I think Leclerc was exceptional. So I’m sure some of it is a good move in the engine.
“But it’s not that obvious next door [Ferrari customers] Haas, although I think they have new drivers and it’s a little bit busier there. I think it’s a little early to say anything. I’m pretty sure the Ferrari engine would have been up on last year. “
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Alpine managing director Marcin Budkoswski was also impressed with what he saw of Ferrari.
Analysis: The F1 field is closed as Mercedes loses two seconds in four months“Ferrari was strong today, a bit stronger than we expected [to be]”Says Budkowski.
“I think this group with McLaren, with Ferrari, with AlphaTauri, with ourselves, Aston Martin and I think Alfa Romeo weren’t far away either – this group is very, very close.
“It’s almost like the fifth through sixteenth will be tight and from circuit to circuit, condition to condition will be variable.”
Leclerc showed several impressive qualifying performances in 2020 but was often unable to keep the same pace across a racetrack. McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo, who will start between the two Ferraris, suspects they will be stronger over a racetrack today.
“We saw Charles do a great qualifying [results] but last year didn’t have the racing pace to keep it up. I think it’s a different story this year we’ll see.
“I expect that he has a decent race pace too. So I think he’ll be there until the end. “
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2021 Bahrain Grand Prix
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