Frederic Vasseur did not want to make any bold statements about the potential of the SF-25 shown during the Bahrain tests. Although the first impressions suggest that the Scuderia still needs to find the ideal balance, the Team Principal sees a positive aspect in the fact that the numbers recorded on track match those obtained during development at the factory.
In F1, it is often said that tests are just tests. However, the three days of trials do help to provide an initial assessment of the car’s behavior and the relative strength of the competition. Of course, teams do not know their rivals’ fuel loads or engine mappings, but they still have a vast amount of data to analyze and begin defining certain aspects.
At Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton has been optimistic, describing the best sensations he has had in a car in years, Charles Leclerc has been more analytical in his assessment of pre-season testing, without making bold claims. His approach is similar to that of Team Principal Fred Vasseur, who refrained from drawing definitive conclusions after the three days of testing.
The general impression is that Ferrari still has some work to do, as Leclerc himself partially confirmed, pointing out that the Maranello team struggled during two of the sessions to find the right balance window. However, Frederic Vasseur emphasized that the conditions in Bahrain were too atypical to make a proper assessment. To give an idea, on the final day, track temperatures reached 33°C in the morning—almost 15°C higher than the previous day, when the track had not even reached 20°C. Moreover, the wind affected many teams’ work, although the early signs suggest McLaren has emerged as a reference point.
“Honestly, I think it’s still too early, especially because, for once, the conditions here in Bahrain were so extreme that it’s difficult to get a clear picture of the situation. But if we look at it session by session, the scenario changes a lot from day to day,” said the Team Principal. “We don’t know the fuel loads of the others, so it becomes very difficult to interpret everything. But we are focused on ourselves. We said the same thing before coming to Bahrain—we need to concentrate on what we are doing and not worry about others. We’ll see how things go.”
Over the winter, Ferrari made bold choices, abandoning some concepts to experiment with new ones, believing that changes were necessary to open up fresh development avenues. One of these changes is the switch to a pull-rod suspension, which also leads to a revision of airflow along the car.
“We have opened a new door for development because, after a couple of years, there was a need to differentiate something, and I think many teams have done the same. So far, it’s working well—I’m not talking about results, but about the numbers. Everything is heading in the right direction,” said Fred Vasseur.
This theme was echoed by Charles Leclerc, who in interviews highlighted how wind tunnel numbers matched those seen on track—an important starting point for evaluations.
“But honestly, it’s always too early after the Bahrain tests. If we look at past years, the pecking order here has not always been the same as in qualifying a week later. This year, there were also major temperature differences.”
Finally, Fred Vasseur spoke about Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation process. The seven-time world champion did not complete a full race simulation on the final afternoon, as Ferrari wrapped up its program earlier than some other teams. Nonetheless, the tests were crucial for Hamilton, who continues to adjust to the Ferrari environment, studying ways to improve the Power Unit’s response.
“Without a doubt, we have different names for things, different software—he has to learn, but it’s not a big deal. Lewis is adapting quickly. He spends a lot of time at the factory with the team, trying to get to know everyone.”
“I think that even with modern systems, the human connection—the relationship between people—plays a significant role. He can work a lot at the factory, but nothing can replicate the track. You need to experience different situations, discuss setups, and compare yourself with the competition. We’ll be ready for Melbourne.” – the Frenchman pointed out.
“Honestly, he has done a good job, but we have no idea about the pace. As I said, we know our own fuel level and engine mapping, but we don’t know what others were doing. We can only make assumptions. We need to focus on ourselves. The numbers we have recorded are what we expected. I trust the positive feelings we have.”
Feb 28, 2025
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