Breaking news
Formula 1 Bahrain GP
Leclerc: First F1 podium "lucky in unlucky situation"
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc says his maiden Formula 1 podium was “lucky in a very unlucky situation” after an apparent MGU-H failure cost him victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Mar 31, 2019, 5:56 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Leclerc suffered a bad opening lap in which he slipped from first to third and only just fended off Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, before recovering brilliantly to take control of the race.
The 21-year-old held a comfortable lead when he reported an engine problem with 10 laps to go and Ferrari told him he had no energy recovery from the MGU-H.
That meant Leclerc was passed by Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas and was set to be overtaken by the Red Bull of Max Verstappen as well, before being saved by a safety car two laps from the end.
Assessing the loss of his first F1 win on his second start for Ferrari, Leclerc said: “It happens. It is part of motorsport.
“Unfortunately today was not our day but I am confident the team has done an amazing job to recover the lack of pace of Australia.
“Of course I am extremely disappointed, like the whole team, but it happens during the season.
“We have been lucky in a very unlucky situation. I’m happy to have the safety car at the end otherwise we would have finished even more rearward, and with fuel I don't think we could have been OK.”
To take the lead of the race Leclerc had to re-pass Bottas and Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel, and the Monegasque admitted his “very strong” grand prix only made the outcome harder to take.
In the immediate aftermath of the result he also found it difficult to take his first F1 podium as much consolation.
“As I have said a lot in the past, I am never looking at the result, I am looking at the potential to do better,” he said.
“Today, third was not our place.”
Leclerc’s mechanical problem and Vettel spinning while battling Hamilton let Mercedes steal an unlikely one-two in Bahrain.
Hamilton paid tribute to Leclerc over the team radio after winning and said afterwards that Leclerc “has a lot of wins coming in the future”.
“This weekend Ferrari have been incredible,” said Hamilton. “I’m sure it was a devastating result for him.
“We were definitely lucky today.”
His teammate Bottas added: “As a team we got a bit lucky today.
[But] we kept it together, did no mistakes as a team and the car was very reliable, and that is the win today.
“Otherwise it was a difficult race for me. The balance was a bit everywhere."
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 leads Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF90 at the start of the race followed by Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10 and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W10
Photo by: Andy Hone / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Bahrain GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 as Ferrari implodes
Next article Sainz: Verstappen clash saved me from bigger drama
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
Why Charles Leclerc failed to outbrake Max Verstappen in Turn 1 at Singapore GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Charles Leclerc failed to outbrake Max Verstappen in Turn 1 at Singapore GP
More from
Ferrari
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Latest news
Christian Horner calls for F1 budget cap rethink: "Teams are spending $500 or $600m"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
27 min
Christian Horner calls for F1 budget cap rethink: "Teams are spending $500 or $600m"
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
2 h
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe