Bahrain GP: Driver reactions post-qualifying, Leclerc 'a bit disappointed'

Charles Leclerc

"In Q2, I did a [1m29.1s lap] which was more or less the lap time that Max did in Q3. So, it was in the car.

Just, I think we lost a little bit the rhythm with a used set of C3 [tyres] in Q3. Then you have to re-adapt to the new tyres, and I lost a little bit there.

But all in all, it's been a positive qualifying. I'm a bit disappointed, we did a good qualifying.

it's been a tricky weekend until now. We were trying quite a few things in FP1, FP2, FP3. Then I found the sweet spot in qualifying.

Q1 was a bit tricky. Unfortunately, we put two new sets of softs, which compromised a little bit the Q3. But all in all, it's quite a good qualifying to start the year.

We are in a better place compared to a year ago, so that is good. Now, we have to see the race pace.

I'm confident we did a step forward. But we have to wait and see how much of a step forward we did [in race trim].

We really think that Red Bull is still ahead by quite a bit in the race."

Fernando Alonso

"It was a nice surprise to find ourselves competitive. After winter testing we had some doubts in terms of one lap pace.

In free practice, it was a different car this weekend, we felt more competitive. 

But normally we run maybe more engine [power] or less fuel or whatever and we find reality sometimes in qualifying, so we were very cautious into qualifying about our possibilities.

We found ourselves quite competitive in Q1, in Q2 and then in Q3. Now we are in the mix. 

Within one tenth we are together with Ferrari, in front of Hamilton, together with the McLarens. So it's a massive surprise and extremely happy.

I think the car was more connected," the two-time world champion replied. 

We had some difficulties last week in winter to really feel the needs of the car. It was quite inconsistent.

This weekend, all the set-up changes we are trying are doing exactly what we expect from them and this is always a nice thing when you're trying to fine-tune a Formula 1 car to extract the maximum.

So, the extra level of confidence in the car was the positive thing about this weekend."

Max Verstappen 

"I think if you look at the weekend so far, it didn't come easily to us," Verstappen explained.

Testing was very good, but then it was very windy so far this weekend and it was just, I think, a bit more difficult to get the balance of the car together.  

It was just continuous work all the way to qualifying, and I do think that we made some good improvements over the car, and I think that made us then do the lap for pole.

I think it was just a very tight qualifying, and with very tricky conditions with the wind.

If you can get the lap together, maybe you can find one, one-and-a-half tenths in one corner.

It was good for us in Q2, Q3, especially in Q3, I would say as we just improved a little bit more. 

I think throughout the whole qualifying, you can see the gaps were super close, and we never really knew who was going to be on pole heading into Q3.

That was very exciting to see."

George Russell 

"We've had some really great drivers back at base doing the work in the simulator.

Lewis and I have been back on the simulator as well, fine-tuning the set-up, making some improvements.

We've obviously made a big step forward in single-lap – in the qualifying pace. We hope we haven't compromised the race pace at all. 

I think it'll be a close fight between everybody… other than Max.

Everybody at the factory has done an amazing job to give Lewis and I a car that we feel much happier with, a base that we can build upon.

But ultimately, Max is still out there in front. We've still got some catching up to do.

But I think when we look at our qualifying performances over the last two years in Bahrain and our race pace, starting P3 is a great place."

Esteban Ocon 

"Only round one, only round one," he said on the team radio. "We keep pushing. There’s a race tomorrow as well. I’ve got faith in you guys.

And it's very important to be united, to keep the chin up and move forward.

This team some years ago they created a winning car and those ideas were made in the same place as it is today, Viry and Enstone.

So, we can be repeating all these things, and I trust the team to be making a step forward.

Every little detail counts," he nodded. "And that's where by staying united and keeping on pushing all together I'm sure we are going to extract a couple of tenths.

And a couple of tenths could make us pass two teams today and put us very close to Q2. Everything will make a difference until the end.

It's not because we are here now that in five or six race time it's going to be the same story.

We will see tomorrow exactly where we are on a longer run. I think we could be closer to the others."