Ferrari rolled out its first set of upgrades for the SF-25 at the Bahrain GP, and the reactions couldn’t be more different.
- Lewis Hamilton views the changes as a positive step, claiming the upgrades are effective and promising.
- Charles Leclerc has a more tempered perspective, admitting that while the updates deliver as promised, the car’s potential is unchanged.
- Leclerc finds the gap to McLaren daunting and is frustrated with Ferrari’s performance lag.
- Both drivers agree that more work is needed overnight to maximize the car’s potential, especially under changing track conditions.
Arriving at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ferrari introduced its initial updates for the SF-25, hoping to improve its standing in the World Constructors’ Championship. The new parts included a revamped floor, edges, and diffuser. While these modifications aimed to enhance performance, drivers had varied interpretations of their effectiveness.
Lewis Hamilton was quick to appreciate the upgrades, describing them succinctly as ‘definitely working.’ He expressed optimism about Ferrari’s incremental progress and shared his ambition to further harness these enhancements. Hamilton emphasized, ‘It’s just good to see that we’re taking steps forward, and yeah, we’re trying to now extract more from it. I hope that we can make the right steps overnight.’
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc presented a more cautious outlook. He acknowledged that the upgrades met the team’s expectations, yet insisted that they were not sufficient to close the gap with rivals, particularly McLaren. Leclerc openly stated, ‘The potential of the car remains the same, and we’re just not fast enough.’ He went on to say, ‘When we look at the McLaren, they are just on another planet for now.’ His frustration is palpable, yet he finds motivation in the challenge of bridging this gap.
The Bahrain conditions, notably different from those in pre-season tests, complicated matters for Ferrari. This variability required adaptive strategies, as Charles noted, ‘Obviously you go into a session expecting the grip that you had at the test, and it’s completely different.’ Both drivers acknowledged the need for overnight work to adjust to these dynamics effectively.
Leclerc sees the need for a strategy focused on damage control until further advancements are made. He candidly remarked, ‘We’ve got to maximize the car potential that we have for now. If that means finishing fourth, third, fifth — I don’t know what that will be, but we’ll have to take it.’ The patience and persistence in his tone suggest a long road ahead for Ferrari as they strive to return to their winning ways.
Ferrari’s Bahrain performance has highlighted the ongoing challenges it faces as it seeks to regain competitive footing.
