Charles Leclerc Bahrain GP Ferrari DNF Down To Human Error

It sounds as though Ferrari has some clearing up to do behind the scenes before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

It's been revealed that the issues Ferrari and Charles Leclerc faced at the Bahrain GP that caused a DNF could have been caused by human error. 

Ferrari is currently delving into the root cause of Charles Leclerc's sudden DNF during lap 39 of the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend. The Maranello driver was performing brilliantly and was fiercely defending his third-place position - a well-deserved finish for the driver who suffered terribly from bad luck in 2022. 

Unfortunately, the result of the race doesn't reflect the performance the Prancing Horses were exhibiting, albeit at a level beneath Red Bull. 

It was revealed on the day that Charles' DNF was a result of an electrical problem, despite the ERS battery and ECU being replaced that morning. But now, it's been revealed that there was an issue with the wiring loom, agitated by the movement and temperature of the car under race conditions. 

The components surrounding the issue were taken apart for scrutiny, and in doing so, the team has accepted the idea that it could have been "human error" that brought on this issue, according to Motorsport.com Italy. 

This wiring will of course be replaced within the weeks before the next race in Saudi Arabia, but it's likely that if the ECU has been damaged from the issues here, Leclerc could start with a five-position grid penalty, adding insult to injury. 

It's no secret that the SF-23s didn't stack up to Red Bull's RB19, with increased tyre degradation and low general performance. This was partly down to the setup of the car, according to team chief Fred Vasseur, who says they chose a low drag setup. But while this increased performance down the long straights of the track, it increased pressure on the tyres that had to make up for the lack of downforce.

Next race is just that: the next race. Ferrari will hopefully get over their reliability woes and give Leclerc the chance to redeem what he deserves.