Harsh criticism from England on Ferrari SF-25: "As problematic as Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes W15"

Harsh criticism from England on Ferrari SF-25: “As problematic as Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes W15”. A “problematic” Ferrari SF-25, just like Lewis Hamilton’s old Mercedes F1 cars.

The English strike again: the Ferrari SF-25 is a “problematic” car that does not suit Lewis Hamilton’s driving style. Alarm bells are ringing after the Bahrain tests, where the new Maranello single-seater did not exactly shine. While the reasons behind the struggles in Sakhir seem clear, some still see the glass half empty.

Here we go again. Less than a week before the first laps in Melbourne, criticism of Ferrari is pouring in from England. Last year, British newspapers complained that the SF-24 was too simplistic, calling it “too conservative” and unfit to fight for the championship—a prediction that Maranello disproved on track, keeping the title dream alive until Abu Dhabi.

A year later, Gary Anderson weighs in again. Analyzing the Bahrain tests, the former Jordan and Jaguar technical director pointed the finger at the SF-25’s handling. According to him, the car does not seem particularly stable, making it not much of an improvement over the Mercedes W15 driven by Lewis Hamilton last season.

A matter of feeling: Lewis Hamilton’s driving style doesn’t suit the SF-25
Sharing his impressions from Bahrain in *The Telegraph*, Gary Anderson explained his view: “From 2022 to 2024, [Lewis Hamilton] struggled to varying degrees with an unpredictable Mercedes, and last year was the lowest point. Even though he won two races, it was comfortably—or rather, uncomfortably—the worst season of his career.”

“It’s still early, but from first impressions, the new Ferrari doesn’t seem like a significant improvement over last year’s Mercedes W15. In initial tests, the SF-25 didn’t appear as driver-friendly as I would have expected. Hamilton likes a tame car that allows him to fully exploit his talent and minimize lap times. It didn’t seem that way.”

“When Hamilton drove the car, it was running very low and bouncing quite violently. That likely caused a few minor off-track moments. At this early stage of the season, there will always be doubts, but when you see Hamilton making mistakes or running wide, you can say with certainty that the car isn’t giving him the feedback he wants.”

Lewis Hamilton dismisses observers’ concerns
“I’m not sure [Hamilton] is better suited to this car than to the problematic one he drove in 2024,” the engineer concluded, hoping Maranello’s technicians and Charles Leclerc can refine the car’s setup.

However, to counter these discouraging opinions, Hamilton himself spoke out. During a press conference in Bahrain, he described the car’s sensations as the best he had felt in a long time. Now, the final verdict will come from the track, with the season opener, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, set for Sunday, March 16.