Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton will be able to push harder with the SF-25 tomorrow
Yesterday at 03:58 PM
Ferrari performed flawlessly today. First Lewis Hamilton, then Charles Leclerc. The two Ferrari drivers pushed to the limit to provide as much information as possible to the Maranello technical department. A well-structured program that, despite the inconvenience of rain in both sessions, still allowed the historic team to achieve its goal. That is, fulfilling all the planned tasks and making further progress in understanding the car. The British driver breathed a sigh of relief, considering the issues he faced yesterday morning.
Things were slightly more complicated for his Maranello teammate today, but his valuable feedback still arrived on time. When it comes to a single-lap pace, the SF-25 looked quite competitive. Traction was strong, even though the team has yet to fully exploit this characteristic they designed into the car. The handling in fast direction changes was excellent, with the car appearing very agile and well-planted. Some issues remain in corner entry, where a lack of rotation is noticeable in certain situations. A headache that the team is working to “contain.”
Undoubtedly, the road is still long. McLaren looked in great shape, and although Lando Norris insists they still need to refine the rear, their consistency in high-fuel runs this afternoon, posting better times than Ferrari, showed the strong technical preparation of the British team. Nevertheless, Ferrari is reasonably satisfied, though aware that much work remains to unlock the full potential of its latest aeromechanical creation. Eight hours remain to do so.
Lewis Hamilton is in his first year with Ferrari. Leaving an environment like Mercedes at the sporting age of 40 to dive into an exhilarating but pressure-filled adventure was not easy. But who cares, thought the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, why should I pass up the opportunity to race for the most successful team in history? And so he did. The Briton's first two official days have been completely different: the first plagued by several “intentional” issues, the second much smoother, without too many headaches.
Yet, for Lewis Hamilton, both runs were very positive. This confirms what we mentioned yesterday about the exploratory tests Ferrari wanted to conduct, a very useful move to define the car's aerodynamic map. Lewis Hamilton talks about the connection he needs to build with his car, which is essential for extracting the maximum performance. For now, it is a bit early to tell if this will be a car with which he will develop a special feeling. Without a doubt, as he himself states, driving the SF-25 offers extraordinary sensations, even though it is very different from the Mercedes.
From the way the seven-time Formula 1 world champion performed this morning, tracing precise lines, especially in the third sector, which has given Ferrari the most trouble due to understeer, we can say that the SF-25 seems to like Lewis Hamilton as well. A combination that, under the right conditions, could spark fireworks. Not the ones from the floor, as the car is running with very low ride heights, but rather the spectacular results the Briton aims to achieve with the Italian team. His race engineer, Riccardo Adami, has high expectations for him, fascinated by his approach.
From what we understand, particularly in evaluating his case, the seven-time F1 world champion will be able to push harder with the Ferrari SF-25 tomorrow. After all, there are many new controls and modes he is getting used to, and naturally, the best way to test his learning progress with the car is to drive it at the limit. That's exactly what will happen tomorrow in the final part of his track session. Lewis is eager to do so, having himself confirmed our observations.
We are referring to the fact that Maranello's latest creation still has untapped potential. It is a completely new car, with significant changes in kinematics as well as aerodynamics. The same goes for the repositioning of the cockpit and some internal components. Of course, Charles Leclerc will also be involved, but in his case, despite the car's different characteristics, the adaptation process is significantly less demanding. Tomorrow will be an important day in every aspect—the last before the debut at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.
This does not mean that Ferrari will sit idly by in the weeks leading up to the Australian Grand Prix. On the contrary, an extensive analysis phase will begin to deepen the team's understanding of the SF-25 single-seater. From what we have gathered, some minor updates may already be introduced on the car, adjustments aimed at improving performance. While waiting to see them in action, all eyes are on tomorrow, when the Ferrari team will complete the final test session of the 2025 season, striving to achieve the level of understanding they seek of their mechanical package.
— see video above —
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