Despite the daunting speed showcased by McLaren in the pre-season tests, Ferrari remains undeterred, steadfast in their mission to reclaim their spot atop the Formula 1 podium. The racing giant, represented by team principal Fred Vasseur, attributes the intimidating McLaren pace to a series of inconsistent factors in the F1 2025 testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Ferrari, aching to bring the champions’ laurels back to Maranello for the first time since 2008, narrowly missed the constructors’ championship in the final race of 2024. The heated contest at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw McLaren’s Lando Norris edge past Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in a thrilling finish. However, even as the Australian Grand Prix, marking the official start of the Formula 1 season from March 14-16 looms ahead, Ferrari remains undeterred by McLaren’s impressive pace during the pre-season tests.
Norris demonstrated an intimidating long-run pace during the Day 2 simulation on February 27, averaging a 0.537-seconds lead over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc under identical atmospheric conditions. As the session progressed, the gap between the two seemed to broaden, hinting at a tough season ahead for Ferrari.
Yet, Ferrari remains unperturbed, attributing the performance gap to several factors that could potentially tip the scales in their favour as the season unfolds. The team is gearing up for Lewis Hamilton’s maiden race in Ferrari’s signature red, as reported by AMuS.
While Ferrari acknowledges McLaren’s superior speed, they believe their race simulation data indicates that track conditions, particularly the moderate asphalt temperatures, greatly influenced the performance difference. Moreover, the SF-25 was test-driven with a heavier load, possibly due to fuel load variations, further slowing down its performance against McLaren’s lighter setup.
Ferrari also retained all their measuring equipment onboard until the last day of testing. A reliability issue prevented them from conducting a race simulation, suggesting room for further optimization.
Fred Vasseur, the team principal, appears unshaken by McLaren’s powerful performance, maintaining optimism about Ferrari’s chances in the 2025 constructors’ and drivers’ championships. With the seven-time world champion and 105-time Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton joining Leclerc, Ferrari is confident in their driver lineup and their ability to challenge McLaren.
Vasseur also highlighted the unpredictability of pre-season testing conditions. The fluctuating weather and changing track conditions make it challenging to draw firm conclusions about the teams’ relative strengths.
Track temperatures during testing in the Middle East varied from a cool 10-15°C to a scorching 45°C, significantly impacting the cars’ performance. However, the Australian climate is expected to be more stable, around 26°C, as the Southern Hemisphere enters autumn on March 16.
Vasseur explained his team’s situation to reporters, stating, “It has been hard to get a clear read on the overall situation here in Bahrain, as the conditions were changing quite a lot. Over the past six months, we have worked very hard on this car and have made a good improvement, but we will have to wait until we are all on track in Melbourne to understand where we are.”
He added, “We want to fight for both championships, as we know we have two drivers who can do it, and the mood in the team is very positive. We will continue to work hard to be ready in two weeks’ time for the start of the season.”
Ferrari’s determination remains unshaken, and their confidence in their team’s ability to contend for the 2025 titles remains unbroken despite McLaren’s pace. As the new season beckons, the racing world waits with bated breath to see how this classic rivalry unfolds.
