Ferrari engineers 'perfect' key aspect of Lewis Hamilton's F1 car for upcoming season
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The atmosphere was charged with emotion when the chequered flag fell at the season finale in Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina circuit, with both Ferrari and Mercedes teams experiencing a range of feelings as the 2024 campaign drew to a close.
Lewis Hamilton had just secured an impressive fourth-place finish in what would be his final race in a Mercedes Formula 1 car. As he crossed the line, Martin Brundle noted Lewis Hamilton's memorable final-lap overtake on George Russell, a fitting conclusion to their three-year partnership, with Hamilton leaving as the team's highest points scorer. Meanwhile, Ferrari had a triumphant final outing of the season, with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz securing podium finishes.
Despite Oscar Piastri's early spin, McLaren clinched the Constructors' Championship with Lando Norris' well-deserved victory, which denied Ferrari their long-awaited first title in 16 years.
However, Lewis Hamilton would have been buoyed by the impressive performance of his future team, Ferrari, over the final months of the season.
Charles Leclerc triumphed in the Italian Grand Prix, holding off McLaren's pace advantage, while Carlos Sainz's victory in Mexico City was arguably the most dominant display of his Formula 1 career. According to a report from Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, preparations for the 2025 season are already underway at Maranello, and Ferrari may have already perfected one crucial aspect of next year's car that Hamilton will greatly appreciate.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Ferrari has reportedly perfected the floor of the car, a feature that will be crucial to Hamilton's success.
With only minimal changes to the regulations governing the car designs from 2024 to 2025, Ferrari's focus for next year is more on evolution than revolution. Team principal Frederic Vasseur has confirmed that fewer than one percent of the 2025 car's components will be carried over from their 2024 challenger, signaling a refined approach to developing the new car.
Fred Vasseur mentioned in a recent interview that the true competitiveness of the car would only be revealed in Bahrain. The French manager acknowledged that sometimes the risks taken are only apparent after the fact. He further explained that the car would be completely new, with less than 1 percent of its parts shared with the 2024 model. He emphasized that while it was a different project, this approach applied to all teams.
According to the report from Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferrari's 2025 single-seater is expected to feature an evolved version of the experimental floor used by Charles Leclerc in Qatar. The outlet suggests that Ferrari's engineers have successfully refined this component, anticipating its integration into a more dynamic platform that will be even more seamlessly incorporated into the team's latest aerodynamic concept.
Over the past year, it has become increasingly clear that achieving the right balance in the car is crucial, as opposed to simply maximizing downforce. This understanding is vital for Ferrari as they aim to improve upon their current design.
If the team can maintain the strong performance momentum they demonstrated at the end of the 2024 season, there's every reason to believe that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be among the top contenders for the championship in 2025.
The importance of learning from past mistakes, particularly with regard to mid-season updates, was clearly evident throughout the 2024 season. The extended length of the Formula 1 calendar provides teams with ample time and, crucially, a wealth of data to inform their decisions regarding car development.
While teams like Aston Martin and Red Bull introduced updates that ultimately hindered their progress, McLaren stands out as a prime example of a team that got it right. Team principal Andrea Stella made the wise decision to delay the installation of McLaren's new floor, cautious of its potential impact on the performance of other teams.
Ferrari, on the other hand, introduced a significant update in Spain that set them back for several races, with many arguing that this particular package cost them the title. To avoid repeating such mistakes in 2025, Ferrari will need to ensure they make the right calls, which would give Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc a genuine opportunity to challenge McLaren and Max Verstappen's dominance.
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