Lewis Hamilton has analyzed Ferrari’s early performance after the second free practice session at the Mexico Grand Prix, describing the day as positive overall despite several challenges. The British driver did not take part in the first practice session to give Antonio Fuoco the chance to run. In FP2, Lewis Hamilton returned behind the wheel of the SF-25 and admitted that there is still a lot of work to be done, even if the results look encouraging. He emphasized that the setup of his Ferrari remains a key area to optimize ahead of the rest of the weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Charles Leclerc ended FP2 in second place, just behind Max Verstappen. The seven-time World Champion confirmed the car’s competitiveness by finishing fifth, not far from his teammate’s pace. However, Ferrari will need to put in significant overnight work to hit the track on Saturday with a more balanced car, addressing the setup issues pointed out by Hamilton and ensuring improved consistency over longer runs.
Lewis Hamilton positively surprised by the result
Ferrari appears to have reversed the trend from Austin, starting the Mexican weekend strongly right from Friday – something that has often been a good omen for the Scuderia. However, the team cannot afford to rest on the positive impressions from the opening sessions. While the comparison with rivals was encouraging, there are still several elements to refine if Ferrari wants to challenge for a top result in Sunday’s race.
Lewis Hamilton said he was pleasantly surprised by how competitive the car was, despite not feeling entirely comfortable behind the wheel. He explained that the high altitude of Mexico City makes the car behave differently: “I’m surprised by how close we are, considering I didn’t feel at my best. With the altitude, the downforce feels even less than in Monza. You slide everywhere and try to find grip, but it’s really difficult to get it,” said the British driver after FP2.
Focus areas ahead of Saturday
The Ferrari driver also pointed out the main aspects that need attention overnight to improve the SF-25 setup before qualifying: “It wasn’t a complete disaster, but the car was sliding a lot. There’s still plenty of work to do overnight to achieve a more balanced aerodynamic setup,” Lewis Hamilton noted, outlining his priorities for the next step of development.
Ferrari can be reasonably satisfied with its early feedback from Friday in Mexico, but the car is still far from perfect. The lack of grip that affected both drivers is partly due to the track’s poor condition, which is expected to improve significantly as more rubber is laid down throughout the weekend. As the circuit evolves, Ferrari will aim to fine-tune its setup and extract the maximum potential from the SF-25 in the high-altitude conditions of Mexico City.
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