Formula 1 sporting boss Ross Brawn believes Ferrari’s performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix will ac♓t as a “wake-up call” for Mercedes. 

Ferrari looked dominant in Bahrain having locked out the front-row in qualify🔥ing, before holding what appeared to be a comfortable one-two before the Italian squad’s race unraveled.&nbsꦫp;

Sebastian Vettel spun while battling Lewis Hamilton for second place on Lap 38 and ended up falling to fifth, while Charles Leclerc’s hopes of a maiden grand prix victory were dashed ♔by a cruel late engine issue which handed Hamilton an unlikely victory ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas. 

Despite appearing to have a much slower car than its rivals in Bahrain, Mercedes has now taken back-to-back one⭕-two finishes and holds an early 39-point advantage over Ferrari after two rounds.&n☂bsp;

“If you record two one-two finishes in the first two races, you should be in seventh heaven, believing you have dealt a severe blow to your rivals’ hopes,” Brawn said in F1’s post-Bahrain Grand Prix p🔯ress release. 

“And yet, on Sunday, Merce🐻des boss Toto Wolff openly admitted that while it had somewhat unexpectedly finished ahead of the rest in Melbourn꧑e, practically unchallenged, it was a very different story in Bahrain. 

“If it hadn’t have been for Leclerc’s loss of power, Hamilton would have had no chance of📖 att🅺acking the Ferrari, nor would Bottas have finished second, a result that means he keeps his championship lead.

“Mercedes are aware 🎀of the re🌠al situation and they have to fight back against what is clearly a very competitive Ferrari this year.

“If you’ve won everything since 2014 🐬there’s a risk of resting on one’s laurels but Bahrain will have been a wake-up call that they will not be ignoring as they hold their de-briefs at home this week.”

Brawn was also impressed by the performance of Leclerc, ♑who appeared destined to record his first F1 ജvictory having dominated proceedings in Bahrain for much of the race. 

The former Ferrari head noted Leclerc’s “majestic” tyre man꧅agement and mature h⛄andling of his disappointment, with Brawn backing the 21-year-old to bounce back. 

“F1 can be a really cruel sport. In Bahrain, after being fastest at almostඣ every stage of the weekend - with the exception of a short period after the start yesterday - Charles Leclerc was living the dream,” Brawn explained. 

“But then, with just a few laps to go his power unꦚit began to play up and he slowed to the extent that both Mercedes got past him. It was a devastating blow for both driver and team, but especially for Charles.

“However, his fall to third place doesn't take aw🤪ay from what was a brilliant performance the talented Monegasque youngster 🔥delivered. 

“The way in which he regained the lead afteꦫr a handful of laps, the skill with which he managed his tyres in what was a particularly difficult race due to the blus🧸tery sandy conditions, was majestic.

“I also appreciated how composed he was in dealing with what happened at the end of the race,” he added. “That showed a gre✱at deal of maturity, a trait that will serve him well in the future. 

“Char🍎les truly deserved a win and the consolation of this first podium finish and I am sure he will be back on top very soon.”