Lewis Hamilton is just over a week away from making his Grand Prix debut with Ferrari. The Brit has been preparing extensively behind the scenes for the 2025 season.
Ferrari have given Hamilton four private outings in their machinery to integrate him into the team – the last of those being in the SF-25 at Fiorano 24 hours after its livery was unveiled at the F1 75 launch event.
The seven-time champion got back behind the wheel of his 2025 challenger in Bahrain for three days of testing. While he encountered no issues with the car, it was not perhaps the smoothest test Hamilton would have hoped for.
Surprisingly, the 40-year-old only completed 162 laps of the Sakhir International Circuit over the three-day test. Hamilton ran more laps than three other drivers: Max Verstappen, Liam Lawson and Lance Stroll.
Nevertheless, there were a lot of encouraging signs from the SF-25 and the Brit as he topped the timesheets at the halfway point of testing. Hamilton’s time was quicker than the fastest 2024 time set by Carlos Sainz – a clear step forward from Ferrari.
Hamilton is invigorated ahead of the 2025 season as he searches for his eighth drivers’ title with the Maranello outfit. However, there is still one ‘unanswered question’ about the SF-25 after testing.
Ferrari’s SF-25 still has the ‘unanswered question’ of tyre management heading into the Australian Grand Prix
As aforementioned, Ferrari gave the 40-year-old four private tests before pre-season. Coming into Bahrain, Ferrari had not given Hamilton his ‘definitive’ steering wheel for 2025 yet, giving him another thing to get used to.
During his private tests, Ferrari sought to work on tyre management with Hamilton – something he struggled with at Mercedes in the ground effect era. He recorded the lowest finish of his career with the Silver Arrows in 2024 with seventh.
Speaking on the Inside Line F1 Podcast after testing in Bahrain, journalist Craig Scarborough says tyre management is still an ‘unanswered question’ with the 2025 Ferrari. No one will know if the car can manage the rubber until it operates in different track conditions.
“But really, the unanswered question is very much how they’ll manage tyres during a race.
“And they’ve had ups and downs through last year, I think they finished the season quite well with their tyre management. I think as I said they did have a dip mid-season.
“So that for me, that’s the unanswered question. Until we get to some more tracks and different conditions.
“Both hot and cold, front limited, rear limited, fast and slow-speed circuits. It’s then the time that we’ll start to build some real answers about that Ferrari.”
Lewis Hamilton was seen adopting one ‘dynamite’ Charles Leclerc trait in Bahrain
Hamilton will hope his 2025 car will be competitive and worthy of a championship. However, he will be up against strong opponents after Ferrari’s rivals displayed promising signs in Bahrain.
Some ‘paddock chatter’ is suggesting Ferrari have been overtaken by Mercedes in development. Hamilton will not be impressed by this seeing as he has just left the Silver Arrows in frustration over their inconsistent machine in recent years.
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The seven-time champion will also face fierce competition from teammate Charles Leclerc. The Monagasque driver is known as one of the strongest in F1 over one lap.
Interestingly, Hamilton was seen using Leclerc’s throttle and brake overlap approach in Bahrain, carrying extra engine power into the corners for faster corner entry.
This proved ‘dynamite’ for Leclerc in qualifying and could benefit Hamilton in 2025 if the SF-25 can handle it.
