George Russell wasn’t the only driver whose DRS opened when it shouldn’t have done during the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc was shocked to see his DRS open as he navigated the high-speed turns 11 and 12 on lap 48 of the race.
The Ferrari driver initially thought something had gone wrong with his car. “What the hell have you done?” he demanded of race engineer Bryan Bozzi as soon as he reached the next straight.
Leclerc was unaware race control had given him and other drivers full manual control over their DRS due to the problem they had encountered with George Russell’s car.
Ordinarily the system only allows drivers to use DRS inside the prescribed zones and when within a second of a car ahead, as laid down by the rules. Race control chose to override the automated system during the grand prix.
Drivers were still required to obey the rules of using DRS, as Bozzi told his driver:
Lap: 49/57 LEC: 1’37.658
Leclerc
Leclerc’s DRS opens briefly between turns 11 and 12What the hell have you done? Why do I have DRS on all the time now?
Bozzi
Norris, 0.4 behind, do not use it.
Bozzi
So there have been issues with transponders, you can only use it when I tell you. Norris attacks Leclerc at turn four but runs off the track on the outside
Bozzi
And Norris 0.7 behind.
Race control switched to manual DRS operation for some cars due to a failure of the automated system for Russell’s car, which would have left him unable to use DRS. Russell was the next car ahead of Leclerc on the track and the pair were separated by less than two seconds at the time.
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Leclerc did not have the opportunity to legitimately use DRS until one occasion after Lando Norris overtook him. He then fell back out of DRS range and was told he could not use DRS again:
Lap: 51/57 LEC: 1’37.279
Bozzi
Norris 0.8.
Bozzi
Norris 0.6.
Bozzi
Norris 0.5, brake balance minus one.
Bozzi
Six laps to go, six laps to go.
Lap: 52/57 LEC: 1’38.423
Bozzi
Norris passes Leclerc on the outside of turn four. Leclerc is within a second of him as they reach the next detection pointUse DRS, use DRS.
Bozzi
Norris 1.5 so do not use DRS. Do not use DRS.
Leclerc was not investigated for using DRS outside of the permitted area. Russell was, and Ferrari advised Leclerc to stay as close to him as he could in case the Mercedes driver received a penalty.
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Although the stewards ruled Russell did use DRS when he should not have done, he was not penalised:
Lap: 53/57 LEC: 1’37.583
Bozzi
Russell 37.3.
Bozzi
So Russell will be investigated potentially for using DRS when he couldn’t, so let’s try and target five seconds to him, he’s 3.4.
Lap: 54/57 LEC: 1’37.794
Bozzi
Norris has three strikes so still open. Russell 37.4
Lap: 55/57 LEC: 1’37.586
Bozzi
Russell 3.8, 37.4.
Bozzi
[State of charge] four.
Bozzi
We need [state of charge] four. Gap to Russell 3.9.
Lap: 56/57 LEC: 1’37.666
Bozzi
Russell 37.4, 4.0 ahead.
Lap: 57/57 LEC: 1’38.273
Bozzi
And last lap, gap to Russell 3.9, 37.8.
Chequered flag
Bozzi
And Russell 4.1 Reminder, pick up. Charge button on.
Leclerc
Any news of penalties?
Leclerc
No, no news. No news for now. We just told you the gap. We’ll see later.
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2025 Bahrain Grand Prix
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