With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Ferrari will present itself at the Bahrain pre-season tests in the last week of February. A very important three-day event for all F1 teams who, for the first and last time, will be able to test their new cars before starting the 2025 racing campaign. A different atmosphere has been felt in recent days in Maranello. Undoubtedly, much of the credit goes to the arrival of the seven-time world champion, who has literally enchanted the fans, going from enemy to “one of us.”
“We fight together”: this is somewhat the motto of the historic team, which the Italian supporters reaffirmed yesterday during the first shakedown of the British driver. A track test where Lewis drove an old car, but one that was fitted with the same braking system as the upcoming car. As previously mentioned, we’re referring to Ferrari’s Brembo system, on which the Englishman spoke very positively. In 2024, various qualifying problems stemmed mainly from braking phases. This was directly shared by Andrew Shovlin in recent weeks.
The Prancing Horse has been working for some time to bring back the great performance of the Briton in qualifying. It’s no coincidence that he is the driver in history with the most poles, an impressive 104, able to extract maximum performance from the car with little fuel like few others. Another brilliant interpreter of this practice is the Monegasque. Considering his experience with Brembo brakes, Charles Leclerc has given many tips to the Englishman, who struggled considerably last season with Carbon Industries’ discs and calipers. There is also the other consideration about the power unit, a different engine compared to Mercedes’.
We’re especially referring to the ways in which the hybrid system is used through the K2, K1, and K1 Plus maps. Overboosts that offer peaks of power recovered by the motor generators to gain advantages at specific points in the stint. Lewis has become familiar with the controls and tested the various modes. The same goes for the tires, an issue to which several maps are dedicated. The Briton’s work has just begun, but there are already those who are convinced that poor performances will be plenty in comparison to the younger teammate.
Hamilton, at this point in his career, when he is now 40, might even deliver a performance lower than Carlos Sainz’s. This is one of the most widespread thoughts among many fans on social media. Naturally, the same individuals judge the switch between the two as a mistake. For this reason, if the SF-25 offers the Maranello drivers the chance to win, they believe that it will undoubtedly be Charles who leads the way. Maybe not always, but over the course of a season, the general impression of the fans and media is that the Monegasque will prevail. Just think of the years of dominance when his teammate was Valtteri Bottas.
The road will no longer be downhill for Lewis. Nine words that perfectly encapsulate the essence of the speech. And it could indeed be like that, no one denies it. However, underestimating the Briton is one of the most foolish things Charles Leclerc could do. The “veteran” at Ferrari feels stronger. This much is true. Or at least, he wants to prove it to himself, his team, and all the fans. But doing it is another matter, because the Englishman’s spirit has been renewed. The drive he possesses has awakened some of his dormant talent. On the other hand, making a fool of himself is not in the plans of seven-time world champion.
“The courage to change,” a phrase that Lewis has made his own by choosing to end his career dressed in red. Wanting to take on this challenge underscores the “right madness” that a driver must have to fuel his ambitions. Immersing oneself in an unknown culture, after breaking all records, was something unimaginable. Yet the bet did not scare the Englishman, aware of the risks but unafraid of them. A winning mindset that will help the entire team working in Maranello.
In this regard, there is a phrase from Verstappen, who knows a thing or two about victories, said last year while talking about his car: “A strong driver adapts to the car and doesn’t expect the car to adapt to him.” In his case, it was a jab at his teammate, Sergio Perez, who kept complaining and then struggling on track. Well… using this advice from Max, considering the work Lewis will have to do, we can say that the new Ferrari driver has everything to make the same impact as the Dutchman. The last of Frederic Vasseur’s concerns is exactly this.
The Frenchman is betting blindly on Lewis. He is strongly convinced that his contribution will be outstanding and, at the same time, he is certain that he will give Charles Leclerc a tough time. Much more often than expected. So, now we just have to wait. The track, as the supreme judge, will give an answer to all these questions. Question marks that will be erased soon. Lastly, a tip for the fans: beyond opinions or preferences, watch out for Hamilton and his target: to become world champion for the eighth time, but this time with Ferrari.
— see video above —
Leave a Reply