Lewis Hamilton ‘Struggling’ with ‘Nasty’ Ferrari SF-25 as….read more
As the 2025 Formula 1 season edges closer, Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated debut in Ferrari colors has drawn plenty of attention. However, his final session during pre-season testing in Bahrain suggested that the road ahead might not be as smooth as some had hoped. The seven-time World Champion appeared to be having difficulties with the SF-25, prompting F1 pundit Alex Brundle to describe the car’s handling as “really nasty.”
Ferrari Splits Final Day of Testing Between Hamilton and Leclerc
The final day of testing on Friday saw Ferrari divide driving duties between Charles Leclerc and Hamilton. Leclerc hit the track in the morning session, putting in an impressive performance that saw him set the fastest lap of the session. His strong showing raised hopes for Ferrari fans that the SF-25 could be a serious contender this season.
Hamilton then took over driving responsibilities in the evening session, but things didn’t go quite as smoothly for the British driver. He managed to complete 47 laps but only secured the sixth-fastest time on the leaderboard. To add to the concerns, Ferrari ended their testing session slightly earlier than planned due to what the team described as an “anomaly on the telemetry.”
Hamilton’s Struggles with the SF-25 Caught on Camera
Alex Brundle, racing driver and son of Sky F1 commentator Martin Brundle, closely analyzed Hamilton’s onboard footage and wasn’t impressed with what he saw. Speaking about the SF-25’s handling, Brundle noted that the Ferrari appeared to be a real challenge for Hamilton to control, particularly in several key corners at the Bahrain International Circuit.
“That Ferrari looks really difficult to drive this afternoon. I was watching it a little earlier on,” Brundle remarked.
He specifically pointed out issues at multiple turns, including Turn 4, Turn 11, and Turn 13, where Hamilton struggled to keep the car on the ideal racing line. “Exit at Turn 4, entry at Turn 11, way wide. Through the mid-corner of Turn 13 as well,” Brundle added. These observations suggest that Hamilton may still be adapting to the car’s handling characteristics, or that Ferrari needs to refine its setup ahead of the first race.
Ferrari’s Precautionary Call Raises Eyebrows
Towards the end of the session, Ferrari opted to bring Hamilton into the pits earlier than planned. In a brief statement provided to PlanetF1.com, the team explained that they had detected an “anomaly on the telemetry” and chose to stop running as a precaution. While Ferrari did not specify the exact nature of the issue, any technical concerns just days before the first Grand Prix will be a cause for concern for both Hamilton and the team.
A Difficult Start for Hamilton in Red
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has been one of the most talked-about moves in recent F1 history, but his struggles in Bahrain raise questions about how competitive he will be in his debut season with the Scuderia. Pre-season testing is never a definitive indicator of race performance, but Hamilton’s difficulties with the SF-25 suggest that Ferrari still has work to do to ensure their new star driver is comfortable and competitive when the season begins.
With only a short time remaining before the Bahrain Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Ferrari to see if they can address Hamilton’s struggles and deliver a car capable of fighting at the front. Will the seven-time World Champion be able to tame the “nasty” SF-25, or will his first season in red be a tougher challenge than expected? Fans won’t have to wait long to find out.
