With McLaren clearly playing in a different league at the moment, there are still several scenarios for Ferrari. Contrary to what one might think, there is still a lot at stake, even considering the impossibility of catching the papaya-colored duo. A strong result as ‘best of the rest’—just a step below the podium that would confirm the Italian side as the top team behind the leaders, would be a much-needed breath of fresh air in a challenging time. Not just for the standings or image, but especially for morale.
It is undeniable that the Lewis Hamilton seen on Friday in Bahrain is worlds away from the smiling driver who, just six weeks ago on this very track, began his Ferrari adventure. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has struggled to drive the SF-25 the way he wants, with mistakes during qualifying simulation, an average performance on long runs, and above all, an expression on his face that says a lot.
On the other side of the garage, Charles Leclerc has once again taken on a role he had gladly avoid: the driver who tries to pull off a miracle in the qualifying session, pushing the car one or two places beyond what the simulations predict. It’s a script that the Monegasque driver has unfortunately seen far too often during his Ferrari career, each year hoping it will become a thing of the past, only to find himself reliving the same scenario again.
Charles Leclerc explained that they had encountered much higher temperatures compared to the tests carried out at the same circuit, which significantly altered the car’s behaviour. He noted that the Maranello team needed to work on adapting the setup to these new conditions and mentioned that they would address the issue overnight in an effort to optimise the car. The Ferrari driver added that he was pushing in a direction that would allow him to extract the maximum performance according to his driving style.
He acknowledged that their rivals were currently clearly ahead but expressed his motivation to close the gap as quickly as possible and emphasised the importance of focusing on maximising the car’s potential, stating that he believed there was still performance to be found before qualifying. The Monegasque driver concluded by saying that the Maranello team would do everything possible to make the most of the updates they had introduced and that time would tell where their efforts would take them.
A positive signal from the Sakhir weekend would be a much-needed remedy, and the challenge is to stay with Mercedes and the usual Max Verstappen, who also seemed to be dealing with a car that’s far from as balanced and smooth as the McLaren. But the Dutchman comes off a win and is just one point behind Lando Norris in the 2025 Formula 1 championship standings, while Mercedes has started the season with a much different pace than last year. In 2024, after three races, they had 26 points; now they’re on 75 with two podiums already.
Ferrari needs to set aside the expectations from the start of the season and focus on new goals, undoubtedly less prestigious, but crucial for continuing to work calmly toward the European leg of the season.
Charles Leclerc will fight for the second row later today in the qualifying session, which won’t be easy but would be an important result to start the race in the leading group. The fourth-fastest time on Friday, and a good race simulation on medium tyres, place Charles Leclerc not far from George Russell, who appears to be the most dangerous rival aside from Red Bull’s usual comeback pace.
Lewis Hamilton is struggling more with the feeling than with any particular rival, and by the fourth weekend of the season, expectations were that he had be well settled and focused on details. Right now, the scenario is different; the gaps are not huge, but they are becoming consistent. It might seem like a low-profile battle, but it’s not.
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