Ferrari duo Leclerc and Sainz baffled by FIA Bahrain track limits switch

Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have expressed their bewilderment at the 'shifting sands' nature of the track limits regulations across the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.

FIA race director Michael Masi caused a degree of confusion as he altered the rules relating to turn four between the two Friday practice sessions, notably declaring lap times would be deleted for cars going beyond the red-and-white kerb.

For the race, however, Masi reverted back to his pre-event position that exceeding track limits would not be monitored, only to warn Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during the grand prix that if he continued to go beyond the kerb he would be penalised.

Masi felt that with Hamilton exceeding track limits on 29 occasions, he was starting to gain what has been described as 'a lasting advantage'.

Assessing what transpired over the weekend, a bemused Leclerc said: "I have to be honest, I don't really understand why it changed from day to day.

"The rule was clear for us for the race that we could go out but not if it was for an overtaking or something like that.

"But I didn't really understand why it changed from Saturday [when lap times were deleted]. I think it would have been more straightforward to keep the rules as on Saturday."

New Scuderia team-mate Charles Leclerc concurred, believing for any fan watching at home the situation would have been confusing. He said: "For me, as a driver, it was clear what was allowed and what was not allowed.

"What I really don't understand is why it changed from day to day. For the fans, the people back home, it's difficult to keep up to date with all these changes and to know exactly what's going on.

"For the drivers at least, I knew if I overtook someone using the track limits I would be having to let the other car by, so at least that was clear."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Charles Leclerc has hit 'rock bottom' at Ferrari claims F1 race winner

• 20 minutes ago

Red Bull set for radical new design at Austrian Grand Prix in bid to keep Max Verstappen

• 1 hour ago

Lewis Hamilton dominance at Ferrari is a 'lazy narrative' claims F1 insider

• 3 hours ago

F1 star blasts 'unacceptable' Red Bull after driver sacking

• 3 hours ago

The 'simple' fix Lewis Hamilton brought to change Ferrari's fortunes

• Today 08:15

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton new look sends fans wild, F1 star opens up on Ferrari failure

• Today 07:30