Reliability was not the highest concern for brand spanking new Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur earlier than the beginning of the System One season however Sunday’s opening race in Bahrain despatched it again up the listing of priorities.

Charles Leclerc, who led a Ferrari one-two from pole at Sakhir final 12 months, misplaced energy and retired 17 laps from the tip whereas Carlos Sainz completed fourth.

Ferrari had already modified the power retailer on Leclerc’s automotive earlier than the race, a blow with drivers having solely two for the 23-race season with out a grid penalty.

Till then each drivers had been extra centered on whether or not their automotive might match the velocity of the Crimson Bull, who suffered a double retirement final 12 months however this time cruised to a one-two end with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

“General I might say the image is just not the one anticipated earlier than the race,” Vasseur advised reporters.

“It is the primary time we had it [the problem] and we did not face the identical challenge in any respect throughout the 6,000-7,000km that we did with the engines within the final week with the three groups.

“We by no means had the identical challenge on the dyno all through the winter,” he added.

“Crucial now’s to have a transparent image of the state of affairs, the place we’re failing and do a correct evaluation on this and to come back again stronger as quickly as attainable.”

The Frenchman felt Ferrari had been matching Crimson Bull in qualifying however wanted to repair reliability and tyre degradation within the race.

Each Ferrari drivers suffered heavy tyre put on and whereas Leclerc was third earlier than the failure, Sainz completed 48 seconds behind Verstappen.

Crimson Bull dominated on a smooth/smooth/laborious tyre technique whereas Ferrari needed to go for smooth/laborious/laborious.

“The actual fact they can do two smooth and one laborious [stints] when we’ve got to do two laborious one smooth for certain is a recreation killer,” Vasseur stated.

“We have now to enhance on this however I might say that the primary challenge for me is the reliability as a result of we have to have zero points.”

Vasseur was assured Ferrari had been heading in the right direction and could possibly be a match for Crimson Bull, even when rivals Mercedes are already rethinking their automotive’s design given the hole they face.

“I by no means noticed a automotive capable of match the tempo of one other one in quali and to not be capable to within the race,” Vasseur stated. “Then it is a matter of setup and a few decisions on the automotive. It isn’t a matter of idea in any respect.”

Ferrari received two of the primary three races final 12 months earlier than fading because of poor reliability, technique blunders and driver errors.

Vasseur arrived from Swiss-based Sauber in January to interchange the departed Mattia Binotto and has made some instant modifications, together with a method shake-up.

The group sacrificed a possible pole on Saturday to provide Leclerc a set of recent smooth tyres for the race and Sunday’s pitstops went with out a hitch.