Hamilton Inspired by Bahrain Progress as Ferrari Targets Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Breakthrough
Lewis Hamilton lastly had cause to sound extra upbeat following the Bahrain Grand Prix, providing a much more optimistic tone than his downbeat post-race reflections in Japan and China. After enduring a tricky run of type—together with a disqualification in Shanghai resulting from extreme plank put on and being outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc regardless of the Monegasque’s broken entrance wing—Hamilton delivered his strongest results of the season up to now with a fifth-place end in Bahrain.
Whereas Ferrari’s strategic gamble on the Sakhir circuit was undone by the ill-timed deployment of the race’s solely security automotive, it’s unlikely that the seven-time world champion would have completed any greater than fifth. Nonetheless, this efficiency—coupled together with his spectacular Dash Race win in Shanghai—marks a major step ahead for the 40-year-old in what has been a difficult begin to his Ferrari tenure.
Issues stay, nevertheless. Former F1 driver David Coulthard has voiced doubts over whether or not Hamilton has misplaced a few of his edge in qualifying, noting that the Briton solely managed to begin the Bahrain race from ninth on the grid. However, Ferrari’s early-season replace package deal, which included an improved ground design for the SF-25, seems to have delivered tangible advantages.
Provided that Hamilton’s disqualification in China was attributed to extreme plank put on, the upgraded ground represents not only a efficiency enhance however a essential structural repair. These modifications might now set the stage for Ferrari to change into much more aggressive on the high-speed Jeddah Avenue Circuit, house of the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Ferrari Assured Hamilton Can Shine in Jeddah After SF-25 Upgrades
In keeping with a latest report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferrari engineers are extremely inspired by the impression of their first main growth package deal of 2025. The Italian publication claims the group has “practically doubled” the optimum working window of the SF-25 due to the brand new ground, with each Hamilton and Leclerc seeing speedy advantages in efficiency and consistency.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix presents a really completely different problem in comparison with Bahrain. Jeddah’s clean, high-speed format options far much less abrasive asphalt, which may scale back McLaren’s typical tyre administration benefit—a key energy that has usually helped them outperform rivals throughout races with excessive degradation.
Ferrari insiders consider this transformation in circuit traits might present splendid situations for each of their drivers. Gazzetta even studies inner estimates of a possible “30% efficiency enhance” over the Bahrain outing, making Jeddah a key alternative for the group to shut the hole to its rivals.
Such an upswing in type may put added stress on George Russell within the Mercedes, who has been battling Ferrari and McLaren for podium competition. Whether or not this anticipated step ahead will likely be sufficient to problem McLaren’s present benefit, nevertheless, stays to be seen.
Ferrari Planning Aggressive Growth Path Amid Constructors’ Title Chase
Because the 2025 Formulation 1 season progresses, one of the essential strategic selections dealing with groups is when to shift growth assets towards their 2026 automobiles. Whereas a number of outfits are already waiting for the subsequent era of laws, Ferrari can not afford to take their foot off the gasoline within the present marketing campaign—not with Lewis Hamilton nonetheless adjusting to life at Maranello and a championship bid theoretically nonetheless inside attain.
Gazzetta studies that Ferrari is already exhausting at work on its subsequent set of updates, anticipated to be launched on the Miami Grand Prix. The Scuderia is aware of that updates should come swiftly and usually, as late-season enhancements go away fewer races wherein to capitalize—particularly provided that the 2026 technical laws will convey sweeping modifications that demand early consideration.
Ferrari is presently dealing with a deficit of practically 100 factors within the constructors’ standings, and Hamilton already trails McLaren’s Lando Norris by greater than 50 factors within the drivers’ championship. Though the hole is just not but insurmountable, the window for a significant comeback will slim because the season wears on.
For Hamilton and Ferrari alike, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix might function a litmus check—not solely of the SF-25’s growth potential however of how far this new partnership can go in 2025.
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