Lewis Hamilton ‘not at Leclerc’s level’ as Ferrari data catches Helmut Marko’s….read more
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior adviser, has stated that Charles Leclerc was “much faster” than his Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton, during pre-season testing for the 2025 Formula 1 season in Bahrain. Marko’s comments suggest that Hamilton may struggle to reach Leclerc’s level of performance, which could negatively affect Hamilton’s motivation if he feels there’s “no chance of winning” this season.
Hamilton, who recently left Mercedes after 12 successful years and six World Championships, joined Ferrari in 2025 with the goal of securing a record eighth World Championship title, which would surpass the legendary Michael Schumacher’s seven titles. The move is being framed as a fairy tale story for the sport, with Hamilton hoping to end Ferrari’s 18-year title drought and make history in the process.
However, early signs from pre-season testing suggest that this dream may not unfold as hoped. Ferrari’s SF-25, despite improvements that reportedly gained four-tenths of a second, did not perform at the level expected, especially when compared to McLaren’s pace. As the teams prepare for the new season, it appears Ferrari may not be as competitive as hoped.
According to an analysis by PlanetF1.com, the 2025 pecking order currently places Ferrari in fourth position, trailing behind McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes. This assessment is based on discussions with teams around the paddock and direct observations from the track during testing. Despite the updates made to the SF-25, Ferrari’s performance still leaves room for concern.
The performance gap between Hamilton and Leclerc in testing is particularly notable. While Leclerc has been able to extract more performance from the car, Hamilton has struggled to match his teammate’s pace, raising questions about his ability to adapt to the Ferrari car and his future with the team. Given Hamilton’s legendary status in the sport, many had high expectations for his partnership with Ferrari. But with pre-season testing failing to provide the results he was hoping for, the road to his eighth title looks more challenging than anticipated.
Hamilton’s motivation will be crucial to how he performs in 2025. If the competitive gap between Ferrari and the top teams remains wide, it could be difficult for him to maintain the drive and hunger that has fueled his past successes. As he faces a new challenge with Ferrari, it is uncertain whether the dream scenario will become a reality or whether Hamilton will need to recalibrate his expectations in the face of stiff competition from the sport’s front-runners.
