In the concluding day of the 2025 F1 testing, a slight, yet substantial edge in McLaren’s MCL39 was noticed. This advantage was evident even as the day posed challenges, such as a trickier balance and increased rear tyre deg, that were different from the previous day which saw cooler temperatures and less wind change. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri executed an exemplary race simulation, outpacing George Russell’s Mercedes by an average of about 0.5 seconds in their first stint.
Although Russell and Piastri displayed a closely contested race in their second and third stints, the latter was on the slower C1 tyre versus Russell’s C2 in the second stint. It’s worth noting that the Mercedes and Ferrari, regardless of who was driving them or the time of day, showed an incredibly close competition whenever they were on the track together.
Lewis Hamilton’s race simulation in the Ferrari was unfortunately cut short due to an undisclosed technical hitch. However, both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were observed to be comfortable with their respective cars, matching the pace of their competitors with ease.
Ferrari and Mercedes demonstrated distinctive strengths; Ferrari exhibiting its prowess on the straights and better exits off the turns, while Mercedes showed superior speed into the corners despite being prone to front brake locking.
Red Bull, on the other hand, remains an enigma. Despite Max Verstappen experimenting with an array of set-ups, wing, and floor combinations, they didn’t seem ready to put together a race run. However, he eventually found a combination that worked, resulting in the second-fastest time of the day, only surpassed by Russell’s Mercedes.
Carlos Sainz’s Williams clocked the fastest time yesterday, which none of the drivers, including Russell, could match, further highlighting the slower track conditions. Williams emerged as a positive surprise in the tests, with Alex Albon following up Sainz’s commendable performance with the third-fastest time of the day.
Williams and Alpine have reportedly positioned themselves well ahead of the rest of the field. Pierre Gasly from Alpine, who was the fifth quickest, demonstrated a very consistent long run.
Racing Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda finally made some progress in the last few hours of the testing. Aston Martin, however, had a challenging final day due to driver illnesses and lack of grip, which may foreshadow a difficult start to the season. Neither Nico Hulkenberg nor Gabriel Bortoletto found a balance in the Sauber, hinting it could be a Q1-level car once again.
In summary, the final 2025 F1 testing offered some intriguing insights into the competitive landscape of the upcoming season. McLaren seems to be in the lead, albeit marginally, and the competition between Mercedes and Ferrari appears to be heating up.
