Lewis Hamilton Groups Up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in Pursuit of Eighth Components 1 Title as Scuderia Eyes First Champion Driver Since 2007
Ferrari, a reputation synonymous with ardour and pleasure, enjoys unwavering help from the whole nation of Italy. The legendary Scuderia has not had a champion driver to have a good time since Kimi Raikkonen’s triumph in 2007, which prevented Lewis Hamilton from claiming his first title throughout his rookie season with McLaren. Since then, Ferrari has been with out a championship-winning driver, they usually haven’t secured the Constructors’ Championship since 2008. Nevertheless, within the 2024 season, Ferrari completed a robust second, narrowly dropping to McLaren by simply 14 factors within the Abu Dhabi season finale. With the arrival of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc, Ferrari arguably now boasts one of many strongest driver lineups on the grid as they aim a return to the highest.
At Ferrari’s Fiorano check circuit on Wednesday, over 5,000 followers gathered to witness Hamilton and Leclerc take the SF-25 for a spin. The Monegasque almost broke the monitor document with a blistering 56.06-second lap, showcasing the automobile’s potential in the course of the shakedown. Hamilton, although, was 0.8 seconds slower than Leclerc, marking his first laps in Ferrari’s 2025 Components 1 automobile. This session was an early alternative for the crew to evaluate whether or not minor changes made to the SF-24 would yield outcomes earlier than the official pre-season testing in Bahrain, scheduled for February 26-28.
The SF-25, Ferrari’s 2025 F1 automobile, solely introduces a handful of adjustments in comparison with the 2024 model. Regardless of this, sources comparable to Motor Sport Journal report that Ferrari’s administration is optimistic that they’ve addressed the rear downforce points that plagued the SF-24 at excessive speeds. By enhancing the automobile’s airflow path, Ferrari believes they’ve efficiently eliminated the bottleneck that hindered their efficiency in quick corners.
Whereas the 2024 Ferrari was usually the quickest automobile on the grid in low-speed corners, its foremost weak point lay in high-speed turns. To treatment this, Ferrari has made delicate however essential updates to the SF-25, together with the adoption of a pull-rod entrance suspension system and a rearward repositioning of the cockpit. These adjustments are designed to enhance the automobile’s general aerodynamic effectivity and dealing with in high-speed conditions by optimizing airflow by the suspension and in direction of the automobile’s flooring. Probably the most notable profit is an enhanced skill to handle the automobile’s entrance journey top, offering higher management in high-speed corners.
The Fiorano shakedown provided Ferrari an early alternative to check their methods, and the crew loved a clean day with the SF-25. Nevertheless, this session wasn’t conclusive, and Ferrari is now eagerly anticipating the Bahrain check, which might be essential in figuring out the place the SF-25 stands in comparison with its rivals. The Bahrain pre-season check will present a a lot clearer indication of whether or not Ferrari’s updates to enhance high-speed cornering have been profitable. Whereas the check gained’t have a direct influence on the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, it would play a pivotal function in shaping the crew’s efficiency forward of the Chinese language Grand Prix simply seven days later.
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