Yesterday, Leclerc and Hamilton took to the track for the usual filming day at the Fiorano circuit.
Next week, the pre-season tests will take place, which, according to previews, are expected to be crucial for the upcoming championship. Experts predict that the title battle will be closely contested, with the top four teams separated by just a few tenths in the race and a few thousandths in qualifying.
Therefore, the small details and updates that each team will bring throughout the season will be crucial, with a particular focus (and perhaps more) on the development of the 2026 car. After the grand presentation of the liveries that took place on Monday in London, Ferrari took to the track at Fiorano to test the SF-25, with Leclerc taking charge in the morning and Hamilton driving in the afternoon.
Both drivers appeared satisfied with the first laps in the new car, which didn’t show any significant issues with the power unit. Encouraging signs also came from the lap times set on the short Fiorano circuit, with an estimated improvement of almost a second compared to the first laps of the 2024 car.
Additional useful insights also come from the simulator, as reported by “Il Corriere della Sera,” with both Leclerc and Hamilton improving by four-tenths per lap. This is a significant step forward, which aligns with McLaren’s forecast of a performance increase of half a second in race pace.
In such an evenly matched season, updates will be key, with the sense that McLaren and Ferrari are a step ahead of Red Bull and Mercedes. The track, of course, will provide answers, starting with the pre-season tests that will kick off on Monday, February 26, in Bahrain.
Photo: X Scuderia Ferrari