Ferrari Acknowledges Hamilton’s Early Struggles Against Leclerc in Pre…. read more
Ferrari’s highly anticipated partnership with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is already making headlines, with early testing figures suggesting that the British driver has some ground to cover against his new teammate, Charles Leclerc. Reports from Spanish outlet Marca and Italy’s La Repubblica indicate that Leclerc has set an impressive benchmark at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, raising questions about Hamilton’s adaptation to the SF-25.
Leclerc reportedly clocked a lap time of 56.06 seconds, an achievement that ranks second only to Michael Schumacher’s legendary 2004 record at the Maranello-based circuit. By contrast, unofficial timing suggests that Hamilton was up to eight-tenths of a second slower than his Monegasque teammate. While this might seem like a concerning deficit for a driver of Hamilton’s caliber, Ferrari’s leadership remains unconcerned about his initial pace.
Ferrari’s Confidence in Hamilton’s Adaptation
Loïc Serra, Ferrari’s newly appointed technical chief and a former key figure at Mercedes, remains confident that Hamilton will find his rhythm with the team. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Serra acknowledged the gap but downplayed its significance, emphasizing that Hamilton’s adjustment period is completely normal.
“It does not frighten me,” Serra stated. “Lewis is an extraordinary driver who is always hungry for new challenges. I am sure he will be as fast at Ferrari as he was in his best years at the top of F1.”
His remarks suggest that Ferrari fully expects Hamilton to overcome any early struggles as he continues to get accustomed to his new machinery. Despite the noticeable gap between the two drivers in testing, Ferrari remains optimistic that Hamilton’s immense talent and experience will ultimately shine through as he gains more track time.
Why Hamilton’s Deficit May Not Be a Concern
The Fiorano circuit, while an iconic part of Ferrari’s history, is not necessarily an accurate reflection of outright performance for the upcoming season. The track’s compact 1.8-mile layout is primarily used for shakedowns and private testing rather than for evaluating full race pace. This means that an eight-tenths gap between Hamilton and Leclerc may not be indicative of their actual performance difference when the 2025 season begins.
Additionally, Hamilton is still in the process of adapting to Ferrari’s unique car characteristics after spending more than a decade with Mercedes. Differences in steering feedback, braking behavior, and overall handling dynamics could naturally require a learning curve before he reaches peak competitiveness.
As pre-season testing progresses and Hamilton gets more comfortable in his new environment, Ferrari and its fans will be keenly watching to see whether the British driver can close the gap to Leclerc. For now, while Leclerc’s early dominance in testing has turned heads, Ferrari remains fully confident that Hamilton will be a force to be reckoned with once the real racing begins.
