For the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2024, Max Verstappen has a pole position, but Ferrari has made significant progress, so all is not lost.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull 1 won pole position on Friday at the Bahrain Grand Prix, as most had predicted before qualifying. Ferrari was just a few tenths of a second behind.
Even though Verstappen won and will start second, Ferrari still has hope going into the Bahrain Grand Prix. After a thorough analysis of the RB20 and the SF-24, our technical analyst Paolo Filisetti concluded that Ferrari is still very much in the game.
Despite Leclerc’s disappointment following his qualifying run in Bahrain, Friday’s viewing provided a more comprehensive understanding of the Ferrari SF-24 and its character than the three practice sessions and pre-season testing did.
It was unclear throughout free practice whether the SF-24 differed significantly from its predecessor. After the test days, when the racing speed was better, it appeared to be the case. However, did Ferrari have to give up qualifying pace to do that?
We can look at that theory after qualifying now that we have a clear understanding of Ferrari’s performance. The RB20 outperformed the SF-24 in the first sector, accounting for most of Verstappen’s advantage. A direct comparison between Leclerc and Verstappen reveals that the Ferrari had superior acceleration out of the turns.
The two drivers were about equal in the middle sector, which was marked by quick direction changes, but after the straights, the SF-24 appeared to be less effective than the RB20. Red Bull’s radical side pod design, which reduces drag on the vehicle, is primarily responsible for its efficiency.
