A bombshell revelation from a Red Bull insider has rocked the Formula 1 world, exposing data suggesting Lewis Hamilton struggled to match the pace of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc during pre-season testing in Bahrain. Hamilton’s blockbuster move to Ferrari—a bid to secure a record-breaking eighth World Championship—has been met with sky-high expectations. But early indicators hint at an uphill battle, with the seven-time champion reportedly trailing Leclerc’s lap times.
As scrutiny mounts, questions loom: Is Hamilton’s fairytale Ferrari debut already unraveling, or is this a temporary stumble?
Red Bull adviser drops testing bombshell
The insider in question is Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, who didn’t mince words when dissecting Ferrari’s testing performance.
“In Bahrain, Leclerc was the much faster one,” Marko revealed. “Hamilton drove a lot of laps, gradually improved, but was not quite at Leclerc’s level.”
The data, according to Marko, highlights the steep learning curve Lewis Hamilton faces in adapting to Ferrari’s SF-25, a car analysts claim lacks significant upgrades over its predecessor.
Charles Leclerc’s familiarity with Ferrari’s systems and setups gave him an edge, while Hamilton—fresh off a 12-year Mercedes tenure—grappled with the nuances of the scarlet machine. Despite logging extensive mileage, Hamilton’s fastest testing lap was still 0.3 seconds shy of Leclerc’s benchmark, a gap that could translate to multiple grid positions in F1’s tightly packed field.
Ferrari’s Struggles: A car “Looking for Balance”
Behind the scenes, Ferrari’s engineers are scrambling to unlock the SF-25’s potential. Technical director Loic Serra’s team is reportedly “looking for the right setup adjustments” to optimize the car’s balance—a challenge compounded by external skepticism. Former F1 technical director Gary Anderson noted the SF-25 “does not look like a great upgrade” over Lewis Hamilton’s 2024 Mercedes, raising doubts about Ferrari’s ability to close the gap on rivals Red Bull, McLaren, and even Mercedes.
Pre-season projections slot Ferrari fourth in the pecking order, a far cry from the title-contending form Hamilton envisioned. Marko emphasized the stakes:
“Three or four tenths in qualifying can mean three to five grid positions. Overtaking is difficult, so Hamilton must match Leclerc early.”
Can Lewis Hamilton reignite the fire?
Marko’s analysis strikes at a deeper concern: Hamilton’s mindset. “If the factors don’t fit together, and he sees no chance of winning, he could lose motivation,” the Red Bull veteran warned. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was fueled by a desire for legacy-defining success—tying Michael Schumacher’s record with an eighth title at Ferrari. But if the SF-25 remains mid-pack, even his legendary resolve could waver.
Yet Marko cautioned against underestimating the Brit: “Hamilton can improve supernaturally. If the environment clicks, he’ll rise.”
The Australian Grand Prix, F1’s season opener, will test this theory. Can Hamilton bridge the gap to Charles Leclerc—and Ferrari to Red Bull—or will 2025 become a year of painful adjustment?
Hamilton’s Ferrari saga is more than a driver-team pairing—it’s a high-stakes experiment in legacy-building. The Bahrain data paints a grim snapshot, but Lewis Hamilton’s career has been defined by defying odds. For Ferrari, the pressure is twofold: fix the car, and foster harmony between a hungry veteran and a teammate eyeing his first crown. As lights go out in Melbourne, all eyes will be on whether “Hollywood” Hamilton can script a blockbuster comeback—or if reality bites harder than the data.