Fred Vasseur concedes Ferrari are ‘in the dark’ over key F1 2025 issue where McLaren are ‘one step ahead’

Lewis Hamilton will not be thrilled to hear Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur admit the Scuderia ‘still’ do not fully understand a key issue affecting their results in 2025.

The Maranello natives have not enjoyed a great start to the 2025 F1 season, with Ferrari only fourth in the constructors’ standings. McLaren have already opened a 94-point lead over the pride of Italy, too, with Mercedes also 36 ahead and Red Bull are 14 ahead after four rounds.

Ferrari now head to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend hoping to end the first triple-header of the year strongly. There is also some optimism in Maranello for the Jeddah race as Ferrari expect a 30% increase in performance in Saudi Arabia after their upgrades in Bahrain.

Fred Vasseur admits Ferrari are ‘in the dark’ about understanding Pirelli’s 2025 F1 tyre range

As Hamilton and Charles Leclerc failed to claim a Grand Prix podium finish in Australia, China or Japan, Ferrari took a raft of upgrades to Bahrain. The Scuderia gained the most with their revised floor while also unveiling modifications to their rear wing, diffuser and cooling parts.

Yet Bahrain proved Ferrari have problems with Pirelli’s hard tyres also, with Leclerc unable to take advantage of his C1 tyres to fight Mercedes’ George Russell or Lando Norris of McLaren for a podium spot. Leclerc ended the Bahrain GP 4.180s behind Russell and 3.406s to Norris.

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And Ferrari team boss Vasseur now concedes they are still ‘in the dark’ about understanding the 2025 Pirelli F1 tyre range. He also sees the Pirelli tyres as one area where McLaren enjoy an edge over the Scuderia as Ferrari try to climb back up the F1 constructors’ championship.

Vasseur said, via quotes by Motorsport-Total: “We’re still in the early stages with these tyre compounds and I think we’re all still a bit in the dark. And I think McLaren are currently one step ahead in this area.”

Lewis Hamilton will not be thrilled to hear Ferrari are ‘in the dark’ over Pirelli’s 2025 tyres

Vasseur admitting that Ferrari are still ‘in the dark’ about fully understanding the 2025 Pirelli tyre range will not come as music to Hamilton’s ears. The Briton will want the Scuderia to be on top of the rubber as soon as possible for him to start consistently having stronger results.

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It is also not just McLaren who have found an edge over Ferrari with the tyres this year, with Hamilton’s former team Mercedes even able to maintain the life in their tyres for longer. The Silver Arrows took advantage of their better tyre management in Japan and Bahrain, as well.

Rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli amazed Ted Kravitz in the Japanese Grand Prix after the 18-year-old ‘outlasted’ Hamilton, despite the Mercedes driver carrying the medium tyres to the Ferrari racer’s hard tyres. It helped Antonelli to finish the race 10.511s in front, as well.

Leclerc and Ferrari would have even expected the Monegasque to place Russell under more pressure towards the end of the Bahrain GP after fitting hard tyres on his car, whereas rivals Mercedes fitted softs. But Russell actually pulled away from Leclerc following the safety car.