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As the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds, McLaren seems poised to dominate both the Drivers and Constructors’ championships. However, Ferrari may still have a few tricks up their sleeve, as suggested by motorsport analysts on the Total Motorsport F1 Show.
Brandon Sutton, a seasoned F1 writer for Total Motorsport, predicts that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will command the fastest cars on the circuit. Their blazing speed, evidenced during the recent three-day testing session in Bahrain and their commendable progress throughout 2024, places them ahead of the pack.
Despite the early speculation, Sutton cautiously notes, “It may be premature to declare McLaren the clear winners. Let’s not forget, Norris has expressed some concerns about the vehicle’s rear end, which could potentially affect tyre wear and overall vehicle balance.”
Joining Sutton in his analysis, fellow F1 journalist Ewan Gale points to the 24-hour track data from the Sakhir International Circuit. The race simulations indicate that McLaren is set to take pole position at the inaugural race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for March 16. “The striking performance displayed by McLaren towards the end of the long runs sets them apart from their competitors,” Gale observes.
However, despite McLaren’s impressive speed around most F1 tracks for nearly a year, Andrea Stella’s team fell short in the Drivers’ Championship. They did manage to wrestle the Constructors’ crown from Red Bull, though.
Gale further notes that Ferrari’s knack for translating speed into points cannot be overlooked. He spotlights the looming threat from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, both renowned for their exceptional qualifying prowess.
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Espandendo le sue osservazioni, Gale afferma: “Sebbene la McLaren avesse il vantaggio in termini di ritmo verso la fine della scorsa stagione, quando si trattava di accumulare punti, la Ferrari ha guidato la carica. Sembravano pronti a superare la McLaren fino a quando quest’ultima non ha riconquistato un certo controllo nelle ultime gare. E non dimentichiamo, il ritmo di gara della Ferrari, regolato per gomme e carburante, è solo circa due decimi più lento. È qui che i punti contano davvero.”
Riguardo alla qualifica, Gale afferma: “La Ferrari non è lontana. Leclerc è un qualificatore formidabile e sarà interessante vedere se Hamilton riuscirà a ritrovare la sua forma migliore.”
Man mano che la stagione avanza, le “armi segrete” della Ferrari – la loro capacità di convertire il ritmo in punti e l’expertise dei loro piloti nelle qualifiche – potrebbero semplicemente inclinare la bilancia a loro favore. Anche se la McLaren guida la carica, il cavallino rampante non è lontano.
