How do Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin compare going into the BahrainGP? We analyse the GPS data from the weekend so far to provide an answer. F1
driver who edged ahead, with Verstappen completing the front row 0.123s down on Leclerc’s 1m30.558s.
Back then, at the dawn of a new ground-effects era, the RB18 was 10kg overweight. Meanwhile, the Ferrari was far kinder to the scales and its lighter weight was teamed with an urgent engine to produce class-leading acceleration out of the low speed corners. Now, though, it’s the RB19 that can’t be caught under initial power, even though Leclerc is quicker to pick up the throttle out of the tight Turn 1 right-hander on their critical Q3 laps.
But Verstappen’s advantage is short-lived. Down the backstraight on the approach to Turn 4, it’s the SF-23 that enjoys the superior top speed as Leclerc hits 189mph before stamping on the brakes. That compares favourably to his rival’s 187mph. Interestingly, once again, the two cars are displaying the opposite traits as to how they performed at this track a year ago when the Red Bull had the legs in a straight line.
The RB19 appears to produce the superior downforce though as Verstappen is the quicker through the right-hander and then the more violent medium-speed Turn 7. But between these two bends, through the more flowing middle sector, Leclerc is setting the pace. And so, the trend is set for the remainder of the lap.
Verstappen continues to find the time through Turn 13 to give him a superior run on to the penultimate straight. But the lower-drag Ferrari can only be kept behind for so long. Leclerc is another 2.5mph faster into the final braking zone. Of note, he outperforms the Red Bull through the apex before the Milton Keynes creation sets the standard under acceleration. It’s not until the timing line that the Ferrari is able to finally match the Red Bull’s speed at 182mph.
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