Lewis Hamilton has requested some modifications to his new Ferrari SF-25 after the shakedown carried out at Fiorano in recent days. The updates requested by the seven-time world champion are expected to be implemented in time for the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain, scheduled for Wednesday, February 26.
After the official presentation of the car in London, Scuderia Ferrari HP returned to Italy for the usual filming day at the Fiorano track. During the test day, Charles Leclerc drove the SF-25 in the morning session, completing around 30 laps, while in the afternoon, it was Hamilton’s turn to get acquainted with the new single-seater.
SF-25 faster than the 2024 version?
According to unofficial sources, Lewis Hamilton’s best time was about 0.8 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc’s, although the two drivers followed different programs. While the Monegasque, in his seventh season with Ferrari, was able to push from the start, the Briton focused on familiarizing himself with the team’s systems after 11 years with Mercedes.
Despite a slower lap time compared to Charles Leclerc, the initial feedback on the SF-25 has been positive. According to early analyses, the car is 0.4 seconds faster than last year’s Ferrari, an encouraging sign for the Maranello team.
Hamilton requests small adjustments to the SF-25
According to Auto Racer, the British driver has requested small modifications to the car before the start of official testing. These would be relatively minor details, with no substantial differences between his and Leclerc’s setups.
The Briton had already experienced some difficulties during his first test with Ferrari last month, particularly regarding the car’s pedals. Unlike Mercedes, which uses Carbon Industrie brakes, Ferrari is equipped with Brembo-supplied materials, a detail that required an adaptation period for Hamilton.
During his debut with the 2023 Ferrari in January, the Briton reported some difficulties adapting to the braking system, experiencing several lock-ups. The team worked on some pedal modifications for the next test in Barcelona, where Hamilton, however, went off the track.
Although initial theories suggested a possible track irregularity or issues related to the Ferrari engine, the Briton clarified that it was simply a mistake while trying to find the car’s limit: “I had to find the limit of the car as quickly as possible because I only have a few days available.” He then joked: “And I definitely succeeded!”
“A completely different car compared to Mercedes”
Speaking to the media, Lewis Hamilton discussed the challenges of transitioning to the Ferrari SF-25, highlighting the differences from the cars he was used to: “It’s completely different. I thought it would just be another Formula 1 car.” He then explained his impressions at the wheel: “I thought it would be like the transition from McLaren to Mercedes. There were similarities because they were both powered by Mercedes engines, so the sound, the vibration, were the same.”
But with Ferrari, it’s different: “This is a completely different transition because everything is new—the engine, the car’s configuration, the settings, the terminology used by the team. It has been a great experience trying to understand it.” Adapting to the new environment takes time, but Lewis Hamilton said he already feels quite comfortable. Now it’s time to focus on Bahrain.
Source: f1ingenerale
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