Ferrari was the second-best team in terms of points scored in Bahrain (behind McLaren): let’s take a look at the weekend’s outcome for the Scuderia, including both positive and negative aspects.
For a shining Charles Leclerc…
The first encouraging sign of the Sakhir weekend was undoubtedly the performance of Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver secured third place in qualifying (which became second on the grid due to a penalty for Russell) and finished fourth in the race, but overall appeared more at ease with the SF-25.
It’s worth remembering that the SF-25 was significantly updated for the fourth race of the season, with the introduction of the first upgrade package of the year, including a new floor and various changes to the rear of the car.
All in all, the car showed some potential at times, particularly during the second stint of the race, where both Ferraris were the fastest cars on track, also thanks to fresher tyres. Compared to the first three races of 2025, a small step forward seems to have been made in Bahrain, which gives hope for the upcoming rounds.
Lastly, the team’s excellent pit stops should not be overlooked: not something to be taken for granted (just look at Red Bull’s), and potentially a game-changer if the car improves further. Yes, you read that correctly: the current pace still isn’t enough…
…There’s a disappointed Lewis Hamilton
Although there was a slight improvement in Bahrain, it’s impossible to ignore the championship standings, which show the first Ferrari driver (Charles Leclerc) trailing Lando Norris by 45 points in the Drivers’ Championship, and the Scuderia 94 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’. Gaps like these, after just 4 of the 24 races, are certainly concerning.
For the engineers at Maranello, it’s undoubtedly troubling to once again finish behind George Russell’s Mercedes—let alone keeping pace with the two papaya-colored cars.
The 2025 project still has yet to blossom, as does Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with his new car. The seven-time world champion struggled significantly in qualifying, and a climb back to fifth place isn’t exactly something to celebrate.
Yet that was probably the best that could have been expected by Sunday, especially when factoring in the car’s tyre management issues—confirmed by Charles Leclerc at the end of the race. In fact, on hard tyres, the Monegasque was lapping slower than George Russell on softs, when the exact opposite would normally be expected due to degradation. The strategic decision not to use a set of red-banded tyres likely stems from that very issue: the SF-25 wears out its tyres too quickly.
In short, there’s still plenty of work to be done in Maranello if Ferrari wants to come close to meeting the expectations set over the winter, when the team was supposed to fight for both championships. And let’s be clear: no member of the so-called “pressure-driven press” forced Charles Leclerc to say, “I’d be disappointed if we don’t win at least one world title.” But that’s another story…
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