Breaking News: Ferrari Remain Confident in Title Chances Despite McLaren’s Impressive Pace in Pre-Season Testing
As the 2025 Formula One season draws near, Ferrari are staying optimistic about their chances of winning the constructors’ and drivers’ championships, despite McLaren’s impressive pace in pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. The Scuderia are eager to bring glory back to Maranello for the first time since 2008, and they believe they have the talent and resources to do so.
McLaren’s Lando Norris impressed during Day 2 of testing, producing a long-run pace that averaged 0.537 seconds faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc under similar conditions. This has sparked concerns that McLaren may have already gained an upper hand in the championship battle. However, Ferrari are quick to point out that several factors could have influenced the testing results, and they remain confident in their chances.
According to AMuS, Ferrari acknowledge that McLaren may be quicker, but they believe that track conditions, particularly the moderate asphalt temperatures, played a role in the deficit. Additionally, the SF-25 was carrying more weight during testing, likely due to fuel load differences, which could have impacted the car’s performance compared to McLaren’s lighter setup.
Ferrari also noted that they kept all their measuring instruments on board until the final day of testing, which could have left room for optimization. Team principal Fred Vasseur remains unfazed by McLaren’s pace, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of pre-season testing conditions.
“The conditions were changing quite a lot, day by day and from the morning to the afternoon, so it was more similar to Vegas than to the Bahrain we usually know,” Vasseur told reporters. “Over the past six months, we have worked very hard on this car and have made a good improvement, but we will have to wait until we are all on track in Melbourne to understand where we are.”
Vasseur also highlighted the team’s positive mood and their confidence in their driver lineup, which includes seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. “We want to fight for both championships, as we know we have two drivers who can do it,” Vasseur said. “We will continue to work hard to be ready in two weeks’ time for the start of the season.”
As the season opener in Australia approaches, Ferrari are focused on fine-tuning their car and preparing for the challenges ahead. While McLaren’s pace in testing has been impressive, Ferrari are confident that they have the talent, resources, and determination to fight for the top honors in 2025.
