Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, foreground, and Red bull Max Verstappen in the match in Bahrain grand opening. (AFP via Getty Images)
It took three laps in Bahrain for Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to show why he is a potential contender for the Formula One championship, heading into this weekend’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix .
Undoubtedly, the skillful driver from Monaco won the season opener last Sunday in style: from the post and with the fastest lap.
But what really stood out was the way he faced the world champion Max Verstappen – his former teen rival from his competitive days – and came out on top.
Verstappen overtook him three times in rounds 17-19, only for Leclerc to display the poise, control and fierceness to reclaim his spot each time.
There was no panic, no matter who he was up against. Leclerc currently tops the drivers’ standings with 26 points, with teammate Carlos Sainz Jr second on 18 points.
“We’re in the mix to fight for the title, which is fantastic,” Leclerc said. “We’re both happy to have a car capable of winning. And we’ll fight for that.”
Ferrari has not won a race since Leclerc’s victory on the Italian manufacturer’s home track in Monza in 2019, the year he took the lead. F1 for pole position before Hamilton 7-5.
In 2020, Ferrari free fall.
Leclerc is eighth overall, Sebastian Vettel is 13th, and Ferrari is proud to be sixth in the constructors’ championship – track Mercedes equal to 442 points.
Ferrari’s bright red is eye-catching, but team leader Mattia Binotto thinks Red Bull has the edge.
“They are still favorites,” he said.
However, Verstappen had 26 points to make up for Leclerc.
Last weekend’s melee in Bahrain saw Red Bull’s score zero. Verstappen and Sergio Perez were in second and fourth near the bottom but retired because Fuel pump release.
The season was not meant to start this way, with Verstappen fastest in pre-season test.
He was clearly irritated in Bahrain, having his frustrations broadcast on race radio – especially annoyed when asked to contain his frustration when he felt himself could get ahead of Leclerc.
Verstappen turned out to be more diplomatic when he entered the race in Saudi Arabia this Sunday, which will again be under the spotlight.
“Last weekend was a difficult one for all of us,” he said. “We win and lose as a team and we’ll come back stronger.”
Jeddah is 6.18 kilometers (3.83 miles) long Corniche Circuit just hosted F1 for the second time, months after last season’s penultimate race.
With Mercedes slow, it could be another shootout in qualifying between Ferrari and Red Bull. Like last Saturday, when Leclerc overcame Verstappen to win the 10th pole of his career.
“It’s a really fast track with high-speed straights,” said Verstappen. “I’m really looking forward to it…it’s going to be interesting.”
Probably not for Mercedes.
It struggled with weight and an aerodynamic problem known as “porpoising,” which causes race cars to jump and bounce.
“We are clearly third fastest behind Ferrari and Red Bull (in Bahrain),” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
While Red Bull has been undone by a reliability issue, it certainly doesn’t lack speed. The circuit here could prove problematic for Mercedes.
“With one new car and new tires that we’re still learning how to get the most out of, it’s going to be a steep learning curve,” said Wolff.
McLaren Was struggling with a similar issue. The team had a strong 2021 with five podiums including one win, but in Bahrain, Daniel Ricciardo is 14th and Lando Norris is 15th.
“We really don’t have a good enough car at the moment,” said Norris.
F1 race in Saudi Arabia two weeks behind the country killed 81 peopleThe largest known mass execution carried out in the kingdom in its modern history.
“When we hear this kind of news, it’s quite alarming,” F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said last week in an interview with the British broadcaster. Sky. “But I’m a person who really believes in the fact that sport has to make sure that human rights are at the center of our agenda, along with the country we’re going to.”
According to Reprieve, a non-profit that protects people facing human rights abuses and a partner organization of the Saudi Arabia Human Rights Organization in Europe, an additional 16 executions were carried out on Wednesday. Private.
When the race was held here last November, Hamilton said F1 has a “binding obligation” to raise awareness of human rights issues where it goes and expressed reservations about the race in Saudi Arabia.
“But I didn’t have to choose here, the sport was chosen to be here,” said Hamilton: “I feel it’s important that we try to raise awareness. ”
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