Ferrari has tough work to do in Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc need a balanced and competitive car, one that allows them to compete on equal terms with the best and aim for the top. Talk is meaningless. Concrete results are needed in order to silence the skeptics who, following the Bahrain pre-season testing session, have multiplied exponentially after the general enthusiasm of previous weeks. It always works this way with the Italian side. Expectations arise out of nowhere, fans go wild, and then, just a few days later, they display an exaggerated form of “sporting depression.”
In just a few days, the paddock will come alive in Australia at the 5.278-kilometre Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne. The F1 circus arrives, ready to take center stage worldwide in the second weekend of March. Ferrari is not starting as the favorite, according to bookmakers, who allow fans to bet on their favorite driver. Yet team principal Frederic Vasseur insists that the work done during last week’s testing went well. No correlation issues. At this point, let’s trust him. After all, there is nothing else we can do while waiting for the action.
The Prancing Horse therefore returns to Australia, the scene of many victories and satisfactions. The last one came last season with Carlos Sainz, who had been recently operated on. The Spanish driver won, followed by his Maranello teammate Charles Leclerc, on an amazing Sunday afternoon for the Italian side. A historic one-two finish in Melbourne that Ferrari hopes to repeat this week. However, Ferrari’s testing program did not provide the expected feedback, as its experimental approach on track concealed the true potential of the SF-25 single-seater. That is the prevailing message, considering the technical discontinuity that the Maranello team has chosen to follow. A risky but potentially effective path.
In recent days, the Maranello team’s factory work has left nothing to chance. Real data has updated the simulator, where even the main drivers have worked tirelessly. This includes night shifts spent fine-tuning certain concepts that proved less effective. But saying that Ferrari deliberately chose a specific wing and the wrong setup to “hide” its true pace is utter nonsense. Yet, inexplicably, some believe it. Without a doubt, defining the setup boundaries was one of the objectives, on that, we can all agree and we have pointed this out in a previous article.
However, the idea of using the wrong settings to disguise performance by mounting an incorrect wing, only to arrive in Melbourne and shock the world, simply does not exist as was wrongly understood. The version used in testing was, first of all, very similar in load level to the one used last year. Moreover, McLaren also chose a similar specification. On top of that, the Ferrari was losing rear traction at medium-low speeds, where downforce has less impact and the real limiting factor is the mechanical setup. Not to mention that the adjustments made were primarily to correct an understeering tendency.
Another ridiculous claim is that a high-downforce wing is needed in Bahrain. In reality, it’s a “stop-and-go” track with four straights where speeds reach 300 kilometers per hour. Gaining a deep understanding of a single-seater takes time—typically at least three races. This period allows teams to test the car in different conditions and form a clearer idea of its capabilities. Until then, it is impossible to have a complete picture. In the meantime, the learning curve continues in an effort to present the best possible version of the car. This is exactly what Ferrari is doing, just like the other teams.
In the meantime, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc continue to work together and support each other, at least for now. The British driver is learning from Charles Leclerc, but the opposite is also true. In recent days, we pointed out how the Briton has adopted a technique that the Monegasque has mastered for some time. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion is studying trailing throttle because it is useful. This was evident from telemetry, particularly in how car number 44 applied this technique between turns 5 and 6 at the Bahrain circuit. A great sign, as it proves that even at forty years old, one can still learn.
This is very important for Ferrari, as it shows how deeply involved Lewis Hamilton is with the Maranello team and how focused he is on every single detail that could be beneficial. The same logic applies in reverse, as the former Mercedes driver, with his vast experience, has plenty of advice to offer his new teammate. One indirect benefit for Charles Leclerc, thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s arrival, is the public anticipation surrounding the Briton’s first steps with Ferrari.
The intense media focus on the most successful driver in Formula 1 history has taken some pressure off Charles Leclerc, allowing him to concentrate more on his work. Another advantage, again as a consequence of Lewis Hamilton’s signing, is the extra motivation to beat him. Achieving that would be a huge confidence boost and would help clarify the internal hierarchy within the team regarding the lead driver role. It is not the primary objective, but it certainly contributes to the goals the Monegasque driver and Ferrari have set for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign.
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