Leclerc: Red Bull are favourites for Bahrain, not Ferrari
Baku, March 18, AZERTAC
Despite a hugely promising pre-season testing programme for Ferrari, driver Charles Leclerc says Red Bull remain the team to beat heading into 2022, according to RacingNews365.
Charles Leclerc has rejected the notion that Ferrari have the fastest car as F1 gears up for the start of the 2022 season in Bahrain this weekend.
Over the two pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain, the Scuderia consistently impressed by placing at or near the top of the timesheets throughout.
Both Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz exploited what appeared to be good inherent speed from the F1-75, with the car adapting well to the two different circuit types.
Added to that was metronomic reliability from the Ferrari power unit, with the team regularly amongst the highest mileage figures at the end of each day.
But despite some observers suggesting that Ferrari would be at the head of the pack in Bahrain, Leclerc moved to downplay such a notion.
"I don't want to say it's our best [pre-season], because then people will straight away come to the conclusion that we are ahead of everyone, and that's not the case," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365.com, on the eve of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
"I think we are a bit behind Red Bull."
FEEDBACK
Other news in this section
- 24.09.2026 [17:39]
FP2: Russell leads Antonelli and Verstappen in second Azerbaijan GP practice
- 17.06.2026 [18:03]
Azerbaijan joins Formula 1-supported STEM Racing Programme for first time
- 21.09.2025 [18:31]
For us to win in Baku again is just fantastic - Verstappen
- 20.09.2025 [14:46]
Norris leads Verstappen and Piastri as drivers battle the elements in Baku
- 19.09.2025 [19:05]
Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 Trophy dedicated to "The Land of Fire"
- 19.09.2025 [16:06]
F1 second practice for Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 kicks off in Baku
Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day commemorated in Georgia
- 28.09.2026 [21:36]
Juventus re-sign Neto as Grabara replacement
- 28.09.2026 [21:18]
Azerbaijan to join international oil and gas exhibition in Almaty
- 28.09.2026 [21:07]
September 27: A date behind which stand human lives
- 28.09.2026 [20:43]
Azerbaijan elected Codex Alimentarius coordinator for Europe
- 28.09.2026 [20:37]
Top stories update
- 28.09.2026 [20:00]
Azerbaijan’s export to CIS countries increased by over 13% - GRAPH
- 28.09.2026 [19:54]
Landmine blast injures one in Shusha district
- 28.09.2026 [19:19]
Mexican newspaper highlights Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day
- 28.09.2026 [19:18]
Baku State University, Kazakh Maqsut Narikbayev University sign MoU
- 28.09.2026 [19:05]
Azerbaijani tea traditions take center stage in Brussels
- 28.09.2026 [19:01]
Starlink Mobile communication service launched in Kazakhstan
- 28.09.2026 [19:01]
First students admitted to Azerbaijani Language master’s program in China
- 28.09.2026 [18:48]
81 dead as heavy rains, flooding hit India's Uttar Pradesh
- 28.09.2026 [17:56]
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Youth, ECO discuss cooperation prospects
- 28.09.2026 [17:47]
Thousands huddle in Bangkok shelters as Thai flood damages seen at $320 mln
- 28.09.2026 [17:26]
bp successfully completes multi-well subsea intervention campaign on DWG
- 28.09.2026 [17:20]
Morocco's king expresses solidarity with Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks
- 28.09.2026 [16:45]
2,100-year-old luxury tableware unearthed from ancient shipwreck off Türkiye
- 28.09.2026 [16:41]
Parma part ways with ex-Arsenal assistant Carlos Cuesta
- 28.09.2026 [16:36]
Azerbaijani artistic gymnast wins bronze in Paris
- 28.09.2026 [16:34]
Kazakh delegation visits Central Bank of Azerbaijan
- 28.09.2026 [16:33]
® AzInTelecom presents its digital solutions at ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026
- 28.09.2026 [16:08]
Fenerbahçe’s arrival date in Azerbaijan for friendly match revealed
- 28.09.2026 [15:33]
New UN secretary-general should be competent, impartial, upright: China
- 28.09.2026 [15:27]
Turkic Investment Fund finances Almaty International Airport expansion
- 28.09.2026 [14:54]
OpenAI bots meddled with multiple US government agency sites
- 28.09.2026 [14:18]
® Local expertise as a driver of Azerbaijan’s investment attractiveness
- 28.09.2026 [14:14]
Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Georgia hold trilateral customs meeting in Goygol
- 28.09.2026 [14:09]
Azerbaijan claims team title at Beach Wrestling World Series Final in Greece
- 28.09.2026 [12:41]
Azerbaijan, Türkiye expand chess cooperation
- 28.09.2026 [12:38]
Increase recorded in transport of motor vehicles by ASCO ferries
- 28.09.2026 [12:23]
Top stories update
- 28.09.2026 [12:01]
Azerbaijan fencer claims bronze in Hungary
- 28.09.2026 [11:58]
Mahir Mammadov re-elected FIDE Vice President for third term
- 28.09.2026 [11:46]
Jurgen Klopp oversees unwanted 62-year first as Germany hit historic new low
- 28.09.2026 [11:16]
September 28 marks World Rabies Day 2026
- 28.09.2026 [11:07]
Release from the Press Service of the President
- 28.09.2026 [10:58]
Oil prices climb on global markets
- 28.09.2026 [10:46]
Gold prices fall by $107
- 28.09.2026 [10:34]
Top stories update
- 27.09.2026 [20:00]
State and government officials visit Victory Park in Baku
- 27.09.2026 [12:45]
Azerbaijan observes nationwide moment of silence to pay respect to martyrs
- 27.09.2026 [12:01]
Top stories update
- 27.09.2026 [12:00]
Ombudsperson issues statement on Remembrance Day
- 27.09.2026 [10:20]
President Ilham Aliyev visited Victory Park in Baku on Remembrance Day VIDEO
- 27.09.2026 [10:19]
Azerbaijan, Brookfield explore investment opportunities in key sectors
- 26.09.2026 [18:56]
Russell holds off Verstappen to win Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- 26.09.2026 [18:10]
Rome commemorates September 27-Day of Remembrance with documentary screening
- 26.09.2026 [17:20]
Azerbaijan, Vista Equity Partners review new areas for investments
- 26.09.2026 [17:12]
Dobrindt seeks 'hardening' of EU borders at Munich talks
- 26.09.2026 [17:07]
Stockholm hosts event marking September 27 – Remembrance Day
- 26.09.2026 [16:11]
SOCAR and Italian Football Federation sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement
- 26.09.2026 [15:59]
Azerbaijan, Global Infrastructure Partners discuss prospects for cooperation
- 26.09.2026 [15:55]
Tree-planting initiative held in Lachin on the occasion of Remembrance Day
- 26.09.2026 [15:11]