Ferrari, once projected to be McLaren’s primary contender in the 2025 Formula 1 season, concluded its Bahrain testing with more questions than answers. The team’s initial performance, led by Charles Leclerc in the new SF-25, was encouraging. However, subsequent tests suggested a gap between Ferrari and McLaren, an observation bolstered by Lando Norris’s impressive long run.
Norris’s stellar performance on the second evening of testing left him 30 seconds ahead of Leclerc, indicating that not only is Ferrari lagging behind McLaren, but the team may also face additional challenges from Mercedes. Leclerc’s Thursday run was closely matched with Kimi Antonelli, who was testing his first ever race run on actual F1 tyres. This suggests there is room for improvement as Antonelli familiarizes himself with the equipment.
However, it is essential to bear in mind that the testing conditions are far from actual race conditions. Factors such as divergent fuel loads and engine modes can distort the comparison between teams. Moreover, the unusual weather conditions in Bahrain this year, including unprecedented cold weather and gusts of wind, added another layer of complexity to the testing process.
Leclerc reflected on the changing conditions, stating, “The feeling on the first day was good, then on the second and third day the conditions became a lot more difficult, so it was quite trickier.” He added that the team’s current focus is on readjusting the balance of the car.
Bahrain’s unique weather conditions this year could lead to misconceptions about the team’s performance. The conditions during the testing period vastly differed from those anticipated during the actual race weekend in April. As a result, McLaren has been cautious about interpreting Norris’s impressive numbers.
Despite the uncertainty, Leclerc admitted the importance of the test run in identifying areas of improvement, stating, “However it was a really important run to understand where we were lacking compared to them but also compared to my own feeling.” This sentiment echoed his previous statements regarding the team’s need for further work before they are ready for Melbourne.
The Bahrain testing has certainly hinted at Ferrari’s current position behind McLaren. However, the exact size of this gap remains uncertain. An intended race simulation for Lewis Hamilton on the final day was cut short due to an “anomaly” in Ferrari’s data, further complicating efforts to make a direct comparison with Oscar Piastri and George Russell.
Ferrari, it seems, is under no illusions about its performance during the test. Leclerc admitted that the balance of the car needs more work before the team can feel confident in its preparation. As he put it, “We’re not yet in the right window, which is normal because in testing you try different things, and you have to do quite big changes in order to swap all the different set-up directions, to make sure you make the right choice coming into the first race.”
Lewis Hamilton also expressed optimism about the SF-25’s potential, despite acknowledging the need for further improvements. The team will now focus on refining its strategies and ensuring it is in the best possible position for the season opener in Melbourne.
Ferrari’s team boss, Fred Vasseur, emphasized the importance of focusing on their own performance rather than speculating about the competition. He said, “We just have to be focused on us, to check that we have the numbers of aero we were expecting, the balance of the car that we are expecting. Then, I trust my guys.” While the Bahrain test may have raised more questions than it answered for Ferrari, the team remains committed to improving its performance and preparing for the challenges ahead.