Charles leclerc to Drive Ferrari SF-25 First, Hamilton to Wait for His…read more
Charles Leclerc will be the first to get behind the wheel of Ferrari’s new SF-25 car on Tuesday, ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who will have to wait for his turn in the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car. The Ferrari SF-25, which was previously referred to as Project 677, is set to be officially revealed on Wednesday morning, followed by a shakedown test at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track.
The initial run of the car will mark an important milestone for Ferrari, as they begin their preparations for the upcoming season. Leclerc, who is entering his seventh season with Ferrari, will have the honor of driving the SF-25 first, with the session scheduled to begin around 0930 local time on Tuesday. Hamilton, who recently joined Ferrari on a multi-year contract after leaving Mercedes, will then take over for the afternoon session. Both drivers will have the opportunity to complete a 100-kilometer run with the SF-25 during the shakedown, providing them with their first real experience of the new car ahead of the official pre-season test in Bahrain.
The shakedown at Ferrari’s Fiorano track will follow in the footsteps of other teams like Haas, McLaren, and Williams, who have all carried out similar tests at Silverstone, the venue for the British Grand Prix. It will also be a return to Fiorano for Hamilton, who made his on-track debut as a Ferrari driver last month. During that session, Hamilton completed 30 laps in the team’s 2023 car, albeit in damp conditions, marking a significant moment in his transition to the Scuderia.
The Ferrari SF-25 marks an important step forward for the team after a strong 2024 season. Ferrari finished just 14 points behind Constructors’ Champions McLaren, securing five victories throughout the year with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who left the team to make way for Hamilton. Leclerc’s performance in 2024 was a bright spot for Ferrari, and the team is hoping that the SF-25 will continue that momentum into 2025.
As Ferrari prepares for the upcoming season, much is expected from the new SF-25 car, with Leclerc and Hamilton aiming to push the team back to the front of the grid. The shakedown will serve as an important test for the car, allowing both drivers to get a feel for its performance and make any necessary adjustments before the official pre-season test in Bahrain. With a solid foundation already laid in 2024, Ferrari will be hoping to build on their success and challenge for the title in 2025.
