Ferrari have hopes of ending a 17-year Formula 1 title drought after the arrival of Lewis Hamilton ahead of the 2025 season.
The Italian manufacturer missed out on the constructors’ championship by just 14 points to McLaren after a tight fight in 2024.
Signing Hamilton could be the difference they need to get across the line and finally take home some significant silverware.
Ferrari suffered from some tyre worries during pre-season testing which may become a bigger concern if they suffer a repeat of the issues at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc could be the lead driver over Hamilton at Ferrari if he starts to copy some of the seven-time champion’s habits.
Hamilton’s ‘demeanour’ has changed since his Ferrari debut and he appears to be far more comfortable in his new car than he had been in Mercedes machinery recently.
Ferrari may have overlooked ‘mistake’ which could impact Lewis Hamilton in 2025
Ferrari made some significant alterations to their car over the winter and have introduced a new front suspension layout.
It’s part of an aggressive development push for 2025. With the 2026 F1 regulations around the corner, this year is an almost risk-free opportunity to give their all.
READ MORE: Why Lewis Hamilton deliberately avoided photographers at F1 testing after Ferrari move, hid ‘behind a barrier’
F1 expert Craig Scarborough doesn’t believe that adopting the pull-rod suspension isn’t big for their hopes as some may be making it out to be.
“Certainly looking at the results from testing, I don’t think they’ve made a mistake,” he said. “Of course, as you mentioned already, you’ve got the wind tunnel restrictions, you have budget restrictions, you’re going to have two very competitive drivers driving around six other very competitive drivers.
“I think it could end up being a mistake, not from the technical side, but from that managing the entire season side,” Scarborough continued. “Obviously you’ve got 2026 massive rule changes coming up. I think the change from push-rod at the front to pull-rod is not as big an important things some other people have made out.
“Particularly the Italian press that predict this one way or the other, every year that they’re going to switch to one or the other.”
Alex Brundle spotted something ‘horrid’ on Lewis Hamilton’s onboard at F1 testing
After three days of testing, Hamilton set the second fastest time, just behind the man he replaces at the Scuderia in Carlos Sainz, who was making his Williams debut.
Day two was when the majority of the representative fast running was completed, with ideal track and weather conditions.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton caught the eye of Drive to Survive crew when he did one thing in F1 testing paddock
Day three was a bit trickier, and may have been a reason why Alex Brundle spotted Hamilton’s ‘horrid’ onboard with his car looking tricky to handle.
It may also have been a setup related issue. Formula 1 cars can be ultra-sensitive to change and they’ll be hoping that it was an issue with an easy fix.
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