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Mercedes had a low-key check at Sakhir when it comes to outright tempo, however the Brackley staff topped the instances in FP2, with Lewis Hamilton forward of George Russell.
Carlos Sainz was fourth for Ferrari, 0.395s down on pacesetter Hamilton, whereas Charles Leclerc made a mistake on his fast lap and thus didn’t set a consultant time in ninth. Nevertheless, the Monegasque driver believes that the staff is in a very good place.
“It felt alright, once more no large surprises not less than on our facet, so that could be a good factor once more,” stated Leclerc on Thursday night. “No unhealthy surprises, no good surprises both, simply precisely as we anticipated the automotive to be.
“In FP2 I made a small mistake on my quick lap. It’s a one-lap tyre, in order that was it. However other than that it is all about tomorrow now, attempting to focus to do a step ahead.
“Mercedes seems sturdy, which is a little bit of a shock, however we do not know with what gas [load] they’re working. So I feel we’ll have all our solutions tomorrow.”

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Leclerc acknowledged that the SF-24 confirmed promise over a long term. “Sure, that seemed fairly good,” he stated.
“The sensation was fairly good, once more I felt fairly good with the automotive and it is a significantly better begin in comparison with final yr, the place final yr we arrived on the first race and it was very troublesome to know precisely what was the precise window the place we are able to optimise our automotive.
“Right this moment it’s not the case, we all know that we’re in the precise window for acting at our greatest with this particular automotive. Now it is all about tomorrow, to try to anticipate the situations of tomorrow, and make the perfect out of this weekend.”
Concerning Ferrari’s potential kind, he added: “I count on to be there with the others. The one query mark is clearly Purple Bull, how far forward they’re in entrance, however with the others, I will be shocked if we aren’t within the combine.”
Leclerc’s team-mate Sainz additionally acknowledged that the Mercedes FP2 tempo was not anticipated. “It simply exhibits that you just now can by no means look into testing as a result of folks are inclined to all the time not present all their playing cards,” stated the Spaniard.
“And it is clear that Mercedes are going to be within the battle, and Purple Bull in the long term they have been rather a lot faster than within the brief run, so I count on them to be additionally stronger tomorrow and Sunday.”
Requested what may very well be improved in a single day, Sainz highlighted a brake concern that had plagued him on Thursday.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“Initially we want to take a look on the brakes,” he stated. “We have had lots of issues in the present day, points with the brakes, materials and with the brake consistency, which is one thing that hasn’t occurred all testing, however for some motive in the present day FP1 and FP2 have been compromised.
“And second simply attempt to fine-tune the stability, particularly for the long term, the place we appear to be a bit on the extra aggressive facet of the tyres, and we have to put collectively a greater long-run bundle.
“It felt fairly tough on the market as a result of it was the windiest day that we have had in Bahrain to date. So the automotive in FP1 and FP2 was, with the wind, a bit trickier to drive than within the assessments.
“And we have seen lots of groups being very aggressive. Very tight area on the market in the present day once more, so seems like [it] needs to be an attention-grabbing weekend.”
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