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Vasseur Uncertain About Ferrari’s Standing but Optimistic for Title Fight
The unpredictable weather conditions in Bahrain have left Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur uncertain about the current pecking order in Formula 1. However, the Frenchman remains optimistic that Ferrari will be in contention for the championship in what will be the final season under the current technical regulations.
Ferrari concluded its three-day pre-season testing with the SF-25, completing a total of 385 laps around the Bahrain International Circuit. This extensive mileage translates to approximately seven full Grand Prix race distances, covering 2,084 kilometers. The team gathered valuable data ahead of the season opener in Australia on March 16, but fluctuating conditions made it challenging to fully assess their competitiveness relative to their rivals.
Mixed Conditions Challenge Teams’ Assessments
During the final day of testing, Charles Leclerc took the wheel in the morning session, primarily using Pirelli’s C3 compound tire for nearly the entire four-hour run. The only exception was a brief five-lap stint on the softer C4 compound. Interestingly, Leclerc’s fastest lap of the session, a 1:30.811, came on the C3 tire rather than the grippier C4.
In the afternoon session, Ferrari’s new recruit, Lewis Hamilton, followed a testing program similar to the one Leclerc executed on Day 2. The seven-time world champion focused on both qualifying and race simulations. On low fuel, Hamilton managed a best time of 1:30.345 using the C4 compound, showcasing the car’s potential in short-run pace.
However, during his high-fuel race simulation on the C3 tires, Ferrari encountered a minor issue. After clocking up 47 laps, equivalent to 254 kilometers, the team detected an anomaly in the telemetry and opted to end Hamilton’s session early as a precaution. This decision was made to ensure that no potential reliability issues would escalate ahead of the first race in Melbourne.
Vasseur: Hard to Gauge the Competition
Reflecting on Ferrari’s performance and the broader competitive landscape, Vasseur admitted that the unique circumstances in Bahrain had made it difficult to get a definitive read on where the team stands relative to its competitors.
“It has been hard to get a clear read on the overall situation here in Bahrain, as the conditions were changing quite a lot day by day and from morning to afternoon,” Vasseur explained. “It was more similar to Las Vegas than to the Bahrain we usually know.”
The Frenchman emphasized that while Ferrari has made significant progress with the SF-25, it will only become clear how competitive they truly are once the racing action begins in Australia.
“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.”
Ferrari’s Optimism for 2025
Despite the uncertainty, Ferrari remains hopeful that the SF-25 will allow them to challenge for wins and potentially the championship in 2025. With this season marking the final year of the current technical regulations before the sweeping rule changes in 2026, the team is eager to make the most of its opportunity.
Vasseur and his engineering team have focused on addressing the weaknesses of last year’s car, particularly in tire degradation and race pace, areas where Ferrari often struggled against Red Bull and Mercedes. The SF-25’s strong reliability and consistent performance in testing suggest that progress has been made, though the true test will come when the competitive running begins in Melbourne.
The 2025 season is expected to be highly competitive, with Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren all looking strong in pre-season testing. While Ferrari’s ultimate standing in the pecking order remains uncertain, the Scuderia is determined to fight at the front and challenge for race wins from the outset.
With just over two weeks to go until the Australian Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Ferrari to see if their winter development efforts have paid off. If their testing pace translates into race performance, they could be well-positioned to mount their most serious title challenge in years.
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