Teams’ response following the Bahrain Grand Prix

The Bahrain Grand Prix observed reigning winner Max Verstappen get his fifth profession grand slam by profitable the race from pole poisiton, main every single lap of the grand prix and environment the fastest lap. Right here is what groups experienced to say following the time opener in Manama.

Pink Bull

Pink Bull took a terrifying get started to their time in Bahrain by possessing secured a a person-two in dominant vogue. Max Verstappen appeared to battle for tempo in the early aspect of the weekend, but he sent when it actually mattered by beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to pole place on Friday night.

The Dutchman then managed proceedings in the fifty seven-lap race, demonstrating the sort of dominance he shown final yr and for the duration of pre-time tests just more than a 7 days in the past. His crew-mate Sergio Perez was not able to protected a spot on the entrance row in qualiying, but the Mexican bounced again in the race, producing reward of the dominant race tempo of his RB20.

Max Verstappen, 1st

“It was a distinctive a person nowadays. These sort of times really don’t materialize that normally the place the automobile feels location on, together with the equilibrium and sensation of the automobile and anything went actually properly. The get started was fantastic and then we also seemed following the automobile actually properly, so it was an fulfilling race for me. We managed to uncover a fantastic rhythm and tempo on this observe and the wind power and way assisted me extract a little bit far more from the automobile.

“This is a person of our strongest circuits and hunting to Jeddah we know that the observe there is really various, with a ton of large pace corners and a lot less degradation. I am hoping we can deliver the exact general performance to future 7 days: it is heading to be a problem but I am hunting ahead to it. We have to thank every person at the manufacturing facility who has contributed to a good get started of the yr. It is normally a significant problem to construct a new automobile and comply with up this kind of an unbelievable time, but I’m psyched to kick factors off this time with a earn.”

Sergio Perez, 2nd

“It was a actually robust race from the Crew, it is a good get started to the time, you just can’t get much better than a a person-two to get started a yr which appears to be like it’ll be a actually restricted fight. I overtook Carlos at the get started and from there we ended up capable to chip absent at factors. There ended up a several challenges that we will need to iron out but it is just essential to preserve the momentum with us now.

“From my facet it is fantastic to now have a complete race length guiding us since there will be a ton of discovering to do on how we handle tyres, how we thrust and then we can go from there. We experienced a fantastic tempo, but I feel it is heading to be observe dependent. I just want to preserve increasing since the time is extended.”

Ferrari

Ferrari seemed robust in tests, but the Scuderia approached the opening race in Manama with warning pursuing their struggles final yr. On the other hand, the two Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz shown good tempo in qualifying, and they emerged as next drive guiding Pink Bull on Saturday.

Experienced the Monegasque not been hindered by brake challenges, he could have been in the combat for P2 with Sergio Perez. The Bahrain Grand Prix also verified that the Maranello-centered outfit has designed a good task in producing their 2024 F1 automobile a lot less wind-delicate whilst they have also ironed out their degradation challenges from final time.

Charles Leclerc, 4th

“It was a disappointing race from my facet. There was an difficulty with the brakes, so I struggled to continue to be on observe, in particular in turns nine and ten. We would have experienced the tempo in the automobile to place up a fantastic combat so I just can’t wait around to get again in the automobile in Jeddah.”

Carlos Sainz, third

“It is a good get started to the time and really fantastic factors for the crew. I felt actually fantastic in the automobile all race extended, getting capable to handle the tempo and accomplishing fantastic overtakes. I tried out anything to handle the tyres on the final stint to test and assault Checo (Perez) at the conclusion of the race, but they are continue to more quickly than us. On the other hand, I feel we have a really fantastic baseline to get the job done on and we will need to preserve pushing to near the hole. On to Jeddah!”

Mercedes

Mercedes ended up really challenging to go through for the duration of tests. Their W15 seemed really anxious beneath braking for the duration of pre-time tests, even though the team’s motorists Lewis Hamilton and George Russell sounded optimisitic following the a few times of functioning in Manama.

The race weekend then verified that the W15 is evidently a phase ahead in every single feeling with Russell qualifying himself 3rd on the grid. The a person-time F1 race winner then took a robust get started yesterday, but he and his crew-mate ended up hindered by energy device overheating challenges in the race which compromised their likelihood for a podium complete.

Lewis Hamilton, seventh

“It was a challenging race nowadays. For confident there is some disappointment within just the crew as we hoped that it would be a much better night. We ended up near with a number of other automobiles and the degradation was large. The challenges we confronted clearly expense us some tempo so that was discouraging.

“In the end if I experienced experienced much better, in a natural way I would have been a fantastic pair of areas even further forward as my final stint was fantastic. Currently was about discovery and we located out a ton about the automobile. There is a good deal of parts we can enhance on and I’m confident we will as a crew.”

George Russell, fifth

“It was a unusual working day nowadays. Equally Lewis and I confronted a equivalent difficulty. The energy device was overheating from really early on, so we ended up handling that through. It was a disgrace as we designed a actually fantastic get started. I managed to make a fantastic go on Leclerc for next but really rapidly, I experienced warnings on my steering wheel. To handle the overheating, we ended up getting rid of tenths-of-a-next for each lap, and it was really challenging to keep off everyone guiding me. It is a disgrace that we did not get to clearly show any authentic opportunity of the automobile.

“Luckily, it is not an difficulty we will need to be involved about. We received the cooling configuration improper. We just will need to realize why, and make confident we really don’t do that once again. It was only an incorrect choice we have received a good deal of margin to neat the energy device far more. I feel devoid of the difficulty we would have been in the combat for P3. It is only the very first race of the time so let us see what we can do future 7 days.”

McLaren

McLaren did not glimpse notably robust for the duration of tests, but the Bahrain Global Circuit never ever applied to be their strongest circuit. On the other hand, the Woking-centered outfit managed to elevate their general performance the two in qualifying and the race, but they continue to appeared to absence of a several tenths of a next to their immediate rivals Ferrari and Mercedes.

Lando Norris, sixth

“It was a challenging race, but I feel we continue to experienced a fantastic race with fantastic tempo, and it was a definite advancement on final yr, so I feel we can be delighted as a crew. I feel the wind damage us a little bit nowadays. It altered a ton from the final several times, and it felt a ton even worse in some corners, but we moved ahead, and it was the most effective we could have hoped for nowadays. A fantastic get started to the yr.”

Oscar Piastri, eighth

“So, a P8 to get started the yr. I individually felt like it was a fantastic race for myself, and I feel the race tempo we experienced appeared okay. A several factors to enhance, but not a poor very first race for us, in particular when you glimpse at the place we ended up this time final yr. I’m psyched to see what the future several circuits have in retail outlet for us, and hunting ahead to observing what we can do in the races to arrive.”

Aston Martin

Aston Martin started out the 2023 F1 time in good vogue as Fernando Alonso, who then freshly joined the crew, secured a few podium finishes in the opening a few races of the time. Their 2024 marketing campaign did get off in a a lot less encouraging fashion.

The Spaniard sent a heroic general performance in qualifying, but he was not able to preserve up with Pink Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren on Sunday whilst his crew-mate Lance Stroll was associated in a clash with Nico Hulkenberg at Switch one on Lap one. The Bahrain Grand Prix indicated that the Silverstone-centered squad requirements to uncover a several tenths if they are to get associated in the combat for the most effective-of-the-relaxation spot.

Fernando Alonso, ninth

“I’m delighted to rating some factors from the race nowadays and it was possibly the place we anticipated to complete. It finished up getting a little bit of a silent race for us with a hole forward and guiding us. We believed we would continue to be out lengthier on the two stints and hope there was an gain to get from a Protection Car or truck, but it was not to be. I feel we have some examination to do on our a person lap tempo versus our race general performance. I’m sensation self-assured that we can enhance as the time progresses and let us see if we can be a little bit more robust in Saudi Arabia future 7 days.”

Lance Stroll, tenth

“It feels fantastic to rating a issue following functioning final following the very first lap of the race. I experienced a fantastic getaway off the line, but then received tagged by Nico [Hülkenberg] and fell to the again of the pack. I understood it would be a extended race from there, but I focussed on handling the tyres and designed a several passes on observe. The crew gave me a fantastic technique, as well. We know we have received some get the job done to do as we create the AMR24 and unlock some far more tempo, but it is a extended time and we’ll preserve pushing.”

Kick Sauber

The crew that utilizes a momentary identify right before its changeover into Audi’s operates crew in 2026 has retained its place in the midfield fight. Zhou Guanyu was the winner of that fight which has been founded amongst Kick Sauber, RB, Haas and Williams guiding the top rated 5 groups. His crew-mate Valtteri Bottas experienced a torrid race however as he dropped more than forty seconds for the duration of his next pit end that observed his crew battle to fasten the suitable entrance tyre.

Valtteri Bottas, nineteenth

“Unfortunately, nowadays just has not been my working day. I experienced a fantastic get started, but then I received caught up in the Switch 1 incident amongst Nico [Hülkenberg] and Lance [Stroll], which resulted in entrance wing injury that designed me eliminate some floor and general performance. On top rated of that, we experienced an difficulty with the wheelnut for the duration of my next pit end, which designed us eliminate some far more time.

“Luck was not on our facet nowadays, but with any luck , which is all the poor luck for this time. As a beneficial to get household with us, our tempo was absolutely much better than that of our most important opponents – as viewed with Zhou, who almost concluded into the factors. This reveals we have a much better race automobile than final time, and offers us self-confidence hunting into Jeddah future 7 days.”

Zhou Guanyu, eleventh

“Today, we maximised anything we could, and I am delighted we ended up capable to combat so intently for the factors. We experienced a clear race with a fantastic get started the place I was capable to make up some positions, but it was fairly demanding to preserve the Aston Martins guiding devoid of compromising our tyres. The good thing is, I managed to preserve Kevin [Magnussen] and the relaxation of the discipline guiding me.

“We designed development more than the weekend, and the crew labored difficult to uncover the exceptional set up. Sad to say, in a race with no attrition, we could not get factors devoid of something taking place to the automobiles forward of us. There is continue to a ton to enhance for us, and we’ll go on performing on our general performance to be capable to contend even far more strongly for factors in Jeddah and in the future races.”

Haas

Haas have absent by sizeable alterations more than the wintertime following crew operator Gene Haas experienced deicded to oust previous crew principal Guenther Steiner and deliver in Ayao Komatsu as his substitute. The American outfit experienced a really challenging time in 2023 as their automobile experienced from abnormal tyre put on regardless of its encouraging a person-lap general performance.

The crew has been keen to handle those people challenges, and they now surface to have designed inroads at that entrance, and they are now thoroughly immersed in the restricted midfield fight with RB, Kick Sauber and Williams.

Nico Hulkenberg, sixteenth

“It’s really discouraging and disappointing, and it was a really equivalent state of affairs to final yr into Switch four at the get started. On a beneficial notice, our race tempo and tire degradation seemed fairly fair in contrast to the other midfield runners, and I feel we’re combating Williams, Sauber and RB, so I guess we get that as a beneficial. There will be far more conclusions following nowadays, factors to enhance and improve on. Jeddah is clearly a really various circuit with entirely various properties, so we’ll see what we get there but it feels like we have a substantially much better basis to get the job done with in contrast to final yr.”

Kevin Magnussen, twelfth

“I’m sort of happy – not more than the moon, as we did not rating factors – but it looks like we have a automobile which is a little bit much better on the tires this yr, not essentially more quickly than final yr but at minimum much better on tires, and I feel we have demonstrated that nowadays. Nevertheless, it is only a person observe, a person little bit of tarmac, and a person established of circumstances so we continue to have to clearly show that in other places. It is been a fantastic pair of months of get the job done, the crew has carried out a actually fantastic task, and we’re in a fantastic spot – we just will need to uncover far more.”

RB

The Faenza-centered F1 outfit is aspect of the midfield crew that features Williams, Haas and the Stake Sauber outfits. The crew with a manufacturer-new id has elected to keep the providers of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda for 2024, but the pair appeared to be in conflict when the crew requested the Japanese racer to go apart to permit his crew-mate earlier in the dying phases of the race.

Daniel Ricciardo, thirteenth

“We ended up not fairly fantastic adequate for factors nowadays. I struggled a ton at the commencing of the race with the applied tender tyres since there was a fairly bad grip off the line. In the center stint with the difficult tyres, we received a minimal little bit far more tempo, but I in any case felt that I was battling. In the conclusion, the new tender compound was a ton much better. We ultimately extracted some tempo and ended up catching the pack. At that issue, I received a minimal trapped guiding other automobiles and I dropped the grip on the tyres.

“The connect with for the drivers’ swap was fairly anticipated and arrived with no shock. Right before the race, we clearly talked with the crew about technique designs, and it was extremely possible I was heading to complete the race with a new established of tender tyres following beginning the race with a applied established. It is what it is, and let us transform the webpage now. I have received an concept of what we can do to be much better, so I have some self-confidence in heading racing future 7 days in
Jeddah.”

Yuki Tsunoda, 14th

“I feel I was accomplishing fairly properly within just the factors until finally about midway by the race when I felt it was slipping absent from us. We weren’t combating for factors at that time, so we’ll have to assessment anything for the duration of our article-race examination and master from it for the potential. It is race a person, so there is continue to heaps of time to realize. In typical, there is continue to a ton we can get absent from this weekend, the mechanics did a good task with all our pitstops, and if there is something we could do much better technique-clever, we’ll assessment and enhance for Saudi.”

Williams

Williams was keen to construct a automobile that is a lot less slippery down the straights and can excel in a even larger wide range of race tracks. So much, the crew has seemed a lot less aggressive than final yr with the FW46 possessing formulated technological challenges of various mother nature in pre-time tests and for the duration of the Bahrain race weekend.

The opening race of the time observed the two Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant battle with an overheating energy device which resulted in a decline of outright tempo whilst the American was also hindered by a steering wheel electronics difficulty.

Alex Albon, fifteenth

“The automobile alone was ok but we’re much guiding. We experienced challenges the total race with factors that if we experienced carried out far more functioning in tests, we would’ve been capable to steer clear of. We ended up overheating the total race and ended up down on energy, so with any luck , we can get a glimpse at the details and get there in Jeddah in much better form. Our tempo relative to the other folks is fairly equivalent so that midfield fight is near and will be challenging.”

Logan Sargeant, twentieth

“It was discouraging as we experienced the steering wheel electronics difficulty yesterday in Qualifying and then it returned nowadays, so the most essential detail is that we will need to realize the root lead to of this and get it mounted heading ahead. We experienced a actually fantastic very first lap and a good opening stint and designed some fantastic gains and it felt like it was coming to me right before we experienced the difficulty. We ended up battling a minimal with PU temp which intended I could not continue to be near to the automobiles forward, so it was just a little bit of a disappointing night. There is practically nothing we just can’t take care of, but we will need to realize anything relocating ahead.”

Alpine

The Anglo-French outfit experienced a several robust performances final yr, but they elected to overhaul their automobile for 2024. At the minute, their new F1 challenger seems to absence of outright tempo which is partly down to absence of aerodynamic general performance whilst the automobile is also thought to be massively more than the bare minimum bodyweight restrict. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly ended up capable to comprehensive the complete length of the Bahrain Grand Prix with a two- and a a few-end technique respectively which could offer you a good deal of details for the engineers to get the job done by more than the coming times.

Esteban Ocon, seventeenth

“Today was a continuation of what we observed in Qualifying yesterday and, all round, it has not been the weekend we required. Most importantly we experienced a clear race and gathered important details that we can get into the race in Jeddah future 7 days. It will be appealing to see how we fare on various layouts and in various circumstances. We’ll dig in and place our heads collectively for the duration of the limited split amongst races and see the place we can enhance. We have to continue to be centered, continue to be beneficial and preserve heading in the suitable way. Collectively as a crew we have to preserve our heads up and foot down heading to Saudi Arabia.”

Pierre Gasly, 18th

“It was not our working day but possibly what we anticipated in the conclusion. I experienced a good start off the line, handed a pair of automobiles but then I was caught by some Switch one chaos with automobiles spinning in entrance, which place me again. That was not perfect but following that, we did all we could do with what we experienced in our fingers nowadays.

“We have lots of parts to preserve increasing and I know the difficult get the job done will go on guiding the scenes. We have to preserve producing actions ahead as we are not the place we want to be suitable now. Future 7 days it is a various observe, a new chance and a contemporary problem for us to preserve demonstrating development.”