Hamilton confirms Ferrari upgrade, SF-25 issues not huge

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed that Ferrari has brought a much-anticipated upgrade in its crates for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, amid growing scrutiny over the team’s underwhelming start to the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Despite speculation of a deep-seated design flaw plaguing the Scuderia’s contender, Hamilton denies sensing “a huge amount of issues” with the car.

As Ferrari introduces what is expected to be a pivotal floor upgrade for its SF-25 to address the car’s performance woes, the seven-time world champion’s measured optimism contrasts with rumors of a ride height conundrum costing vital downforce, setting the stage for a critical weekend in Sakhir.

Hamilton Unveils Upgrade Arrival

Ferrari’s disappointing entry into the 2025 season – marred by an eighth- and tenth-place finish for Charles Leclerc and Hamilton in Australia, followed by disqualifications in China for excessive plank wear – has fueled talk of a fundamental flaw in the SF-25.

Many in the paddock suspect the team can’t run the car low enough to maximize downforce, a theory bolstered by Hamilton’s plank violation.

Yet, speaking to Sky Sports F1 on Thursday in Bahrain, the Briton revealed a proactive step forward implemented by the Scuderia.

“We’ve got an upgrade this weekend so I’m excited we’re going to hopefully have a bit more downforce,” he said.

Hamilton’s acknowledgment of the upgrade comes as Ferrari seeks to claw back ground in a season where they sit fourth in the constructors’ standings, 76 points adrift of leaders McLaren.

The team has kept mum on the rumored ride height issues, but the Bahrain update is seen as a potential lifeline. While teammate Leclerc scored a distant fourth in Japan – the team’s best Grand Prix result this year – the gap to McLaren remains significant, estimated at three-tenths of a second per lap.

No Major Issues, Says Hamilton

Despite the SF-25’s struggles, Hamilton downplays any sense of crisis behind the wheel.

“I’m not really feeling a huge amount of issues just we lack overall performance at the moment pace wise, which we will hopefully take a step this weekend,” he said.

“On my side, it’s rear-end a little bit [I’m struggling with] and that’s about it.”

• Read also: Ferrari mulling whether to roll out new floor upgrade in Bahrain

The admission suggests a tweakable flaw rather than a design dead-end, aligning with his hope that the Bahrain upgrade will deliver a tangible boost.

Ferrari’s early-season woes have been stark, yet Hamilton’s focus remains on incremental gains, not a wholesale rethink, offering a steady hand as the team navigates an early-season pivot.

Leclerc Tempers Expectations

Leclerc, meanwhile, echoed Hamilton’s anticipation for the upgrade but cautioned against expecting a silver bullet. Speaking separately, he estimated the McLaren gap at three-tenths from Suzuka and sees the new parts as a step, not a leap.

“We’ve got some new bits on the car coming which I hope will help us to close that gap a little bit,” he said.

“Whether it will be enough to close the complete gap, I don’t think so. I don’t think there is that in what we are bringing here. But I hope it will help us to at least be closer. It’s still quite a significant step.”

Leclerc’s realism underscores the challenge ahead.

“In Suzuka I think this was the gap that there is between McLaren and ourselves, which is three-tenths,” he noted.

“We need to work very hard in order to catch that and that’s what we are doing and I’m confident we can close that gap. Again, what we are bringing here, I don’t think will be enough, but hopefully short-term we will have other things which will help us to be closer.”

The Monegasque’s outlook hints at a multi-phase recovery plan, with Bahrain as a starting point rather than a full fix.
With the SF-25’s new floor under scrutiny this weekend, Ferrari’s ability to extract downforce—and Hamilton’s faith in steady progress—face a defining test in the desert heat of Sakhir.

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