Ferrari deliberately chooses split strategy to attack Verstappen

Ferrari took Max Verstappen into account prior to the Bahrain Grand Prix. For example, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz explained at the post-race press conference that a split strategy was specifically chosen with the Dutchman in mind.

With drivers appearing in Q3 no longer having to start on the tire with which they reached Q3, it was a case of paying close attention to who would start on which tire on Sunday afternoon. Differences were immediately apparent among the top three. Where Verstappen and Sainz started the race on used soft tires, Leclerc had a new set under his car. After the first stops this picture was reversed.

Attack on Verstappen

''Well, it’s just to have a bit of a different strategy between our two cars and to hopefully put Max in a bit of a difficult situation and for Carlos to try and get him towards the end by having a slightly different strategy. I don't think at the end it was possible for Carlos to do the alternate strategy'' said the Monegasque after the race.

The Spaniard acknowledges that that was the plan, but in the race he turned out not to have the same pace as the duo in front. ''This probably made me fall a bit too behind in the first stint because Charles was pushing very hard at the front and Max was nearly managing to keep up with him on the used, and me on the used just reflected the struggles that I've had all weekend. I'm not quite there with the car yet,'' the Ferrari driver concluded critically.