Lewis Hamilton will try and score his first podium as a Ferrari driver at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend. Hamilton won the Sprint in China but a top-three finish in a full-length race would supercede that achievement.
And there are two reasons to be optimistic. First, Hamilton has already driven the SF-25 in Bahrain during pre-season testing, which may offset some of the adaptation issues he’s experienced.
Second, and more importantly, Ferrari have introduced an upgraded floor. Hamilton will trial it in FP1 and, if he and the team are satisfied, use it for the rest of the weekend, along with Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton has won the Bahrain Grand Prix five times, with all of those victories coming in Mercedes colours. But he hasn’t stood on the podium since 2022, having finished a disappointing P7 last year.
Lewis Hamilton ‘wasn’t in the mood’ to talk about Ferrari car issue before Bahrain Grand Prix
Hamilton arrived in Sakhir eighth in the championship after a rather anonymous Japanese GP. His Sunday results so far read P10, DSQ, P7.
After the race at Suzuka, Hamilton suggested that an element of his car was underperforming, costing him a tenth per lap relative to Leclerc. It may be that he was referring to ride height, with Ferrari raising the car (and costing themselves downforce) after their excessive skid block wear in Shanghai.
But Sky Sports analyst Ted Kravitz noted that Hamilton was reluctant to elaborate during his Thursday media duties. This may have been an instruction from the team.
Christian Danner said Fred Vasseur would have to speak to Hamilton over his ‘snotty’ comments.
“The other top story was Lewis Hamilton not really wanting to expand at all on what it is on the car that isn’t right,” Kravitz said on his ‘Podbook’. “He was rowing back what he said at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix.
“I don’t know whether he’s been told by his team ‘can you just not saying anything more about that’.
“Hamilton wasn’t in the mood to elaborate about what ills are on the SF-25. Much fewer words than he’d given at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix when he hinted something was wrong on the car. He really wanted to row it back.”
Fred Vasseur won’t address one touchy subject about Ferrari and 2026
Hamilton used to get frustrated with Mercedes when they wouldn’t lower the car, and perhaps he had the same qualms with Ferrari. The hope will be that the new underbody eliminates the issue.
Ferrari are currently experiencing their longest podium drought since 2022 (Miami to Canada). They need a big result to ease the pressure and change the atmosphere.
The pre-season hype around Hamilton raised the stakes at Maranello. What’s more, this was supposed to be the year that they ended their title drought after finishing just 14 points behind McLaren.
But now, there’s talk that they may have to give up on 2025 and start prioritising the upcoming rule changes. Vasseur won’t talk about the ‘sensitive’ issue and will be banking on this Bahrain update.
