Ferrari SF-25 more effective on tires thanks to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
02/18/2025 01:58 PM
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are already at the center of significant advancements in the tire management of the Ferrari SF-25. Just hours before the unveiling of the new car, rumors continue to circulate about the quality of the new machine. The progress made over its predecessor, the Project 677, appears to be substantial, though the first real test will come on the track.
Some say the atmosphere in Maranello feels different. A sense of pressure, perhaps, typical of a team that knows it can—and, in some ways, must—seize an important opportunity. Winning is always a necessity when wearing red, of course. But at times, this ingrained responsibility of the Scuderia weighs even heavier.
The drought has become suffocating. A series of disappointments has led to a quiet resignation among those who see Ferrari as a religion. The support has never wavered, but finishing second—first among the losers—has ceased to be shocking. The 2025 Formula 1 season brings a different feeling: that resignation is giving way to a much more dangerous hunger for redemption.
Ferrari SF-25, Lap Times (Much) Faster Than 2024
The days leading up to the car's launch and its first laps on track are always filled with speculation and rumors. The ultimate question on everyone's mind is the simplest way to measure the engineering progress made over the winter: all well and good, but just how much faster is this car compared to last year's?
The final answer will come—perhaps—in Bahrain, or more likely in Melbourne. A few weeks ago, the estimated improvement was around seven-tenths of a second. Now, according to an article by Daniele Sparisci and Giorgio Terruzzi in the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, the performance gain is believed to be around four-tenths. A significant margin, no doubt—but will it be enough?
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc: The Key to the SF-25's Tire Management
Much has been said about the "extra weapons" Ferrari may have at its disposal this season. Yesterday, it was wind tunnel and simulator advancements; today, it’s something more tangible. The Corriere della Sera article highlights the synergy between the two Ferrari drivers. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc reportedly share significant similarities in their driving styles.
This is a major advantage over the previous pairing of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who never truly aligned in their driving preferences. It's a development that will surely please Loic Serra, whose 2025 mission is clear—fixing the biggest weakness from last season: tire management, particularly in qualifying conditions.
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