Lewis Hamilton will love what Ferrari insiders are saying about his Saudi Arabian Grand Prix chances after Bahrain updates

Lewis Hamilton was in a position to sound far more positive after the Bahrain Grand Prix than in his previous post-race interviews in Japan and China.

After being disqualified from the race in Shanghai while also falling behind teammate Charles Leclerc despite his broken front wing, and being off the pace of the other Ferrari at Suzuka, Lewis Hamilton recorded his best points finish of the season in Bahrain.

Ferrari’s alternative strategy at the Bahrain Grand Prix was scuppered by the unfortunate timing of the only car safety car of the race, although Hamilton probably wasn’t going to advance beyond his P5 finishing position.

Aside from his remarkable Sprint Race win in China, this was the 40-year-old’s strongest performance in 2025, even if David Coulthard is worried Hamilton has lost his qualifying superpower after only starting the race in P9.

This can partly be put down to Ferrari’s first update package of the season, which improved the car’s floor.

Considering Hamilton was disqualified for excessive plank wear in Shanghai, this was a fundamental change that needed to happen and potentially sets up Ferrari to be even more competitive at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Ferrari insiders excited about Lewis Hamilton’s chances at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

A report from the Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport has shared more details about the changes Ferrari have recently made to their car.

They believe the Ferrari have ‘nearly doubled’ the peak operating window of the SF-25 with their first set of updates this season, and the new floor has undeniably had a ‘positive impact’ for both Hamilton and Leclerc.

The extremely fast street circuit in Saudi Arabia is completely different to the track in Bahrain, and has a much smoother track surface compared to the abrasive asphalt at the previous race.

This should negate some of the advantage McLaren have over their rivals as their tyre management is one of their greatest strengths.

Gazzetta reports that Ferrari staff believe this could create the ‘ideal condition’ for Hamilton and Leclerc, with an ‘increase of about 30%’ compared to the team’s performance in Bahrain expected.

That might end up worrying George Russell in his Mercedes, but whether it’s enough to overturn McLaren’s advantage is yet to be seen.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Ferrari planning further update packages for their 2025 Formula 1 car

One of the biggest decisions that each team in the paddock has to make is when to switch their focus to next year’s car.

Several teams are already working on their 2026 machines, but teams like Ferrari can’t afford to abandon a campaign so early in the year, especially as Hamilton hasn’t got as much time as Leclerc to take advantage of the team building up towards a championship challenge.

Gazzetta reports that Ferrari are already working on their next update package, which is expected at the Miami Grand Prix.

These upgrades need to come thick and fast, as the further into the season they arrive, the fewer races they’ll have to make an impact with 2026’s cars expected to be very different.

Ferrari have nearly a 100-point deficit to overturn in the constructors’ championship, and Hamilton is already more than 50 points behind Lando Norris.

It’s not an impossible gap to overcome, but it’s likely to become more and more challenging as the season progresses.