Ferrari unfazed by Hamilton’s early deficit to Leclerc in pre-season testing – Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited debut in Ferrari colours has already sparked intrigue ahead of the 2025 Formula One season, with early testing figures suggesting the seven-time world champion may have some catching up to do says Ferrari.
According to reports in Spain’s Marca and Italy’s La Repubblica, Charles Leclerc has set a blistering early benchmark at Fiorano, clocking a lap time of 56.06 seconds in the SF-25. The lap is said to be second only to Michael Schumacher’s 2004 record at the iconic Maranello test track.
By comparison, unofficial times suggest Hamilton was as much as eight-tenths of a second off the pace – a gap that might raise eyebrows at first glance.
Ferrari shrug off Hamilton’s early gap to Leclerc in pre-season testing
Despite the apparent disparity, Ferrari’s newly-appointed technical chief Loïc Serra remains unfazed. Serra, who spent many years at Mercedes before joining the Scuderia, is confident that Hamilton’s adjustment period is nothing out of the ordinary but does admit that Hamilton is slower.
“It does not frighten me,” Serra told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Lewis is an extraordinary driver who is always hungry for new challenges. I am sure he will be as fast at Ferrari as he was in his best years at the top of F1.
For now, the numbers coming out of Fiorano are unlikely to send Ferrari into a frenzy. The circuit, a compact 1.8-mile loop used mainly for shakedowns and private testing, is not a definitive indicator of competitive pace. A loss of eight-tenths of a second may look significant on paper, but in the grand scheme of car acclimatisation it is hardly cause for alarm.
Marko confirms rumours of Verstappen exit
Hamilton acknowledges learning curve but remains relaxed
Hamilton himself has acknowledged that the transition from Mercedes to Ferrari is a significant one, with inevitable teething problems. The 40-year-old Briton, who has raced with Mercedes engines for two decades, is now adapting to an entirely new car philosophy.
“Everything is different,” admitted Hamilton. “And it’s not often that a car suits you straight away. But I don’t think I have to change my driving style. My style is quite similar to Charles’ and I’m already comfortable and adapting.
Hamilton got behind the wheel of the SF-25 for the first time on 22 January, completing 30 laps at Fiorano in what was more of a familiarisation exercise than a performance assessment. His real test will come in Bahrain, where the official three-day pre-season test begins on 26 February. This will provide a clearer picture of his comfort level in Ferrari machinery, as well as a more direct comparison with Leclerc in race-like conditions.
Leclerc unfazed by Hamilton’s arrival
While Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has dominated the headlines, Leclerc appears unfazed by the increased scrutiny surrounding the team. The Monegasque, now in his sixth season with Ferrari, is aware of the weight of expectation, but his focus is firmly on self-improvement.
“There is always a lot of attention around Ferrari,” Leclerc told L’Equipe. “But it’s true that with Lewis’ arrival, it’s even bigger. But it’s understandable – we’re talking about a legend of our sport. It hasn’t changed my approach. Yes, Lewis’ arrival makes things a bit crazy and makes the media follow us more closely than usual, but I have prepared as I always have, trying to improve every winter.
Leclerc’s performance in the early tests at Fiorano certainly suggests that he is in good form. His 56.06 lap – if accurate – shows the potential pace of the SF-25, and while Hamilton is still settling in, Leclerc has the advantage of familiarity.
Ferrari bets on patience, not panic
For Ferrari, Hamilton’s early struggles are just part of the adjustment process. The team is playing the long game rather than reacting to isolated test figures. While Hamilton is still integrating himself into a completely new environment, his reputation as one of the most adaptable and relentless competitors in the sport precedes him.
Serra, who worked closely with Hamilton during their time together at Mercedes, has little doubt that the Briton will find his feet sooner rather than later. The key for Ferrari is to ensure that by the first race weekend in Bahrain, both drivers are comfortable and ready to push the SF-25 to its limits.
Hamilton’s real test will come when the stopwatch starts to count in race conditions. Until then, Ferrari are in no rush to draw conclusions from a few early laps at Fiorano.
READ MORE – Ex Red Bull driver refuses to return to race seat
MORE F1 NEWS – FIA president to follow Trump’s lead to appease Russia
The invasion of Ukraine by the aggressor Russia three years ago today one February 24th 2022, saw Formula One take decisive action with almost immediate effect. The Uk almost immediately banned Russian drivers from competing within its territories and the US owned Haas F1 team found itself in rather a pickle.
They had hired the son of a Russian oligarch, Nikita Mazepin as one of their full time drivers for the season yet as the first missiles were fired on Kyiv, Haas were given some breathing space given this was day two of the test and their Russian driver was not scheduled to drive their car.
Haas F1 were primarily sponsored by Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, the owner of Uralkali, who had ironically influenced the design of the team’s livery to resemble the Russian flag. As the massed ranks of Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine, Formula One was undertaking its pre-season testing in Barcelona…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
