Ferrari has made its debut with a series of enhancements for the SF-23 model as they join the Bahrain Grand Prix—and their racers view these updates quite differently.
Although Lewis Hamilton clearly stated that the enhancements "are definitely having an effect," his teammate did not express the same sentiment. Charles Leclerc wasn’t quite as enthusiastic.
The updates introduced at the Bahrain Grand Prix are not sufficient for Charles Leclerc.
The beginning of the 2025 Formula 1 season has not been smooth sailing for Scuderia Ferrari, as they currently occupy the fourth position in the World Constructors' Championship, trailing behind the leading team, McLaren, by 76 points.
The initial move to alter the hierarchy took place over the weekend as the squad debuted numerous new components for their SF-25 car.
These modifications encompass a revamped flooring system, improved edge designs for the floors, and an updated diffuser as they head towards Bahrain.
Scorching heat and inexperienced racers led to varied outcomes during FP1; however, once FP2 commenced and conditions stabilized, it exposed a grim scenario: Charles Leclerc emerged as the quickest Ferrari driver at fourth place, leaving Hamilton trailing behind in eighth position.
Despite this, Hamilton informed the press that "the improvements are certainly proving effective" for him.
He remarked, "It's great to observe that we're making progress, and indeed, we're aiming to get even more out of it."
I hope we can take the correct measures immediately.
On the opposite side of the garage, Charles Leclerc presented a distinct scene.
The latest technology at the Bahrain Grand Prix:
👉 Ferrari SF-25 enhancements detailed featuring major new flooring additions listed for the race in Bahrain.
👉 Revealed: F1’s newest technology showcased at the Bahrain Grand Prix
Even though "we're attempting to steer towards a direction that lets us get more out of the car," the Monaco-based driver told reporters that "the car's capabilities haven’t changed, and unfortunately, we still aren't quick enough."
When we consider the McLaren, they seem to be in their own league right now. This can be frustrating, yet I accept this reality and it pushes me to work harder towards narrowing that performance gap swiftly; however, they are extremely quick.
When confronted with questions regarding the improvements, he conceded that they had fulfilled what the group had committed to, a statement that Leclerc deemed as "positive."
“However, sadly, the difference from McLaren remains too significant.”
The elevated temperatures experienced during practice were significantly higher than those observed during Bahrain’s pre-season testing, leading to problems for many teams, notably affecting Leclerc.
"As expected, you enter a session thinking about the grip you experienced during testing, but it turns out entirely differently," he clarified.
“We need to recalibrate the vehicle, and there'll be substantial work overnight to attempt reversing the circumstances.”
This upgrade issue isn't limited to just Bahrain; Leclerc believes that Ferrari will have to concentrate on minimizing damages as they wait for the car to evolve.
"We need to get the most out of our current vehicle capabilities," he stated.
If that results in us ending up in fourth place, third place, or even fifth — I’m not sure what position it will ultimately be, but whatever it is, we'll have to accept it. My hope is that someday soon we can return to being the quickest vehicle out on the circuit.
There it will involve optimizing the car once more, but this time for victories instead of third place.
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