At the end of the free practice sessions for the Hungarian Grand Prix, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts on Ferrari’s performance and pointed out the areas where the team still needs to improve before Saturday’s qualifying session at the Hungaroring circuit.
Ferrari consolidates its status as second-best team
Following the introduction of recent aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades, the Ferrari SF-25 has been increasingly solidifying its position as the second force on the grid, consistently placing behind a very competitive McLaren team. While this is still not fully satisfying for the most passionate Ferrari supporters—known as the Tifosi—it is undeniably a step in the right direction. The improvements to the car’s performance are becoming more evident with each race weekend.
During Friday’s free practice sessions that kicked off the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, both Ferrari drivers—Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc—expressed cautious optimism regarding the balance and overall behavior of the car. Although some adjustments are still needed ahead of qualifying, both drivers acknowledged that the SF-25 is progressing. However, their evaluations differed slightly, reflecting distinct driving styles and individual car feedback.
Hamilton confident of progress in Budapest
In his typical end-of-day debrief, Lewis Hamilton gave a detailed analysis of his day behind the wheel and identified the areas where the Ferrari team needs to focus overnight in order to maximize its potential on Saturday.
“We made several changes throughout the day to try and improve the balance of the car,” said Hamilton, who joined Scuderia Ferrari at the start of the 2025 season after leaving Mercedes. “I’m still searching for optimal grip, but the direction we’re heading in is definitely the right one.”
The British driver stressed that there is still untapped performance in the car and that Ferrari has room to improve before qualifying. “We have margin to work on and performance to extract ahead of qualifying,” Hamilton explained, indicating that he believes the team can close the gap further with some overnight fine-tuning.
On the subject of race simulations, Hamilton noted that tire degradation was more pronounced compared to recent Grands Prix. “As for the race simulations, we experienced more degradation than in the last few races, so we definitely have work to do on that front,” he added. This could be critical at the Hungaroring, a track known for its twisty layout and high tire wear.
Despite the areas that still require improvement, Hamilton remains upbeat about Ferrari’s overall trajectory and is eager to get back behind the wheel. “There’s a lot of data to analyze, but I’m looking forward to getting back on track,” he concluded, signaling confidence that Ferrari can extract more from its package and challenge McLaren more closely.
The contrast in perspective between Hamilton and Leclerc adds an interesting dimension to Ferrari’s weekend. While both drivers recognize the improvements made to the SF-25, their differing feedback will be valuable for the team’s engineers as they work to refine the setup overnight. The goal remains clear: to maximize qualifying performance and start as far up the grid as possible on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.
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