Scuderia Ferrari concluded a very encouraging Friday of free practice sessions at the Silverstone Circuit, but despite the promising performance, team principal Frédéric Vasseur remains cautious. While he acknowledged the team’s positive showing, the French manager stressed that the true test will come later in the weekend, as the battle for top positions is expected to be extremely close.
At the end of the first day of track action in the United Kingdom for the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Frédéric Vasseur commented with measured optimism on Ferrari’s performance during both FP1 and FP2. He highlighted that the team was able to complete its entire planned program without any technical issues or interruptions, which allowed both drivers to gather valuable data. However, he was quick to point out that the true challenge is still ahead.
“Everything went smoothly today,” Fred Vasseur told Sky Sport F1 following the second free practice session. “Even in the afternoon’s race simulation, we saw encouraging signs from both cars. Perhaps we asked a bit too much from the tyres at the start of the long run, but sometimes being aggressive pays off. We know that Sunday will bring a real battle on track—likely the tightest and most hard-fought race of the season so far. The key will be finding the right compromise between attacking and managing the race.”
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc among the fastest, but Ferrari must stay sharp
Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were among the fastest drivers during the second free practice session at Silverstone. Their performance received positive evaluations from Frédéric Vasseur, who particularly emphasized how important Lewis Hamilton’s growing confidence with the SF-25 car has been in extracting its full potential.
“Lewis Hamilton is feeling confident with the car, and that kind of trust helps a driver push closer to the limit,” said Fred Vasseur. “But it’s also important to remain clear-headed—we must not overstep that limit. The car responded well today, and that allows both Lewis and Charles to focus on fine-tuning the details of their driving and setup.”
One of the key technical updates on the SF-25 car this weekend at Silverstone is the new floor that Ferrari introduced during the previous race weekend in Austria. This upgrade has been a focal point for engineers and fans alike. Frédéric Vasseur confirmed that the new aerodynamic package delivered the expected results, although he was keen to stress that the overall performance improvement was the result of a combination of several important factors.
“I think the floor helped,” he admitted, “but in reality, what really made the difference today was that we managed to put all the elements together. The drivers remained fully concentrated, and the car setup was well balanced. Of course, technical upgrades like the floor are important for refining performance, but in the end, it’s the collective effort from the whole team that really counts.”
Caution remains despite positive signs
Despite the positive feeling around the Ferrari garage and promising performance indicators on Friday, Frédéric Vasseur urged both the team and the fans to remain cautious and grounded. He reminded everyone that in such a competitive and tightly contested Formula 1 season, every small detail can make a significant difference.
“Let’s not build up expectations too much,” said Fred Vasseur. “It’s better to stay focused on ourselves. The car’s balance continues to be a constant challenge, and there is always work to do in that area. But for now, the overall sensations are positive.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the weekend, Ferrari hopes to carry the momentum from Friday’s free practice sessions into qualifying and the race itself. The goal is clear: to return to the podium and compete at the front of the field—hopefully delivering a strong performance in front of the passionate British crowd at Silverstone.
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