FIORANO (ITALPRESS) – Ferrari’s day at Fiorano started early, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton who, after the livery presentation show of all ten Formula One teams staged in the evening at London’s O2 Arena, returned in record time to the Rossa’s base camp for a filming day and shakedown with the new SF-25. Very first and crucial kilometers to give the two drivers a chance to get the feel and specs on the single-seater that will accompany them for the twenty-four races of the 2025 season, with the prologue of the three-day test in Bahrain from February 26 to 28 and the first turning off of the lights on March 16 in Melbourne, Australia. A total of about 250 kilometers Leclerc and Hamilton covered during some 40 laps each, in front of a packed crowd from the first light of dawn on the Fiorano bridge. A view of the circuit amply repaid by the Rossa drivers, who slowed down several times at the sight of the many fans present to greet them and reciprocate their warmth. Significantly, as mentioned, the distance covered by the new Ferrarista line-up at the wheel of the SF-25, which after the first data readings and simulator tests thus obtained a first concrete feedback on the track. “In this type of day if there is news it is often negative, instead so far we have had no problems, things are going well,” commented at the end of the session the team principal of the Rossa, Frederic Vasseur, who at the microphones of Sky Sport made a very first assessment of this two-day event, between London and Fiorano, in an atmosphere of constant enthusiasm generated also and above all by Hamilton’s first official outings in the Cavallino suit. “The collaboration with Hamilton is going very well, both from a technical point of view and off the track,” Vasseur added further. “Yesterday in London he was a bit excited, as he has been for two months now. The seven-time world champion thus drove an SF-25 that, according to Vasseur, represents “a positive evolution” of the 2024 car, albeit with several changes: “This Ferrari has been changed 90/95% but with a regulation philosophy that we have known for four years now. It was not necessary to make a revolution of the car, but to follow the line drawn from last year’s car.” At the end of the test day at Fiorano, Charles Leclerc told Sky Sport about his first feelings: “I came back this morning from London, this afternoon I was a bit tired. I would always like to feel more, especially on an important day like this where there is enthusiasm. There were no bad surprises and that is the positive news. For now it is difficult to go beyond this comment, but the feeling was good. The environment was incredible, there was a big crowd and it was exciting. I gained a pound and a half, but we are always very limited in going up in weight because there are limits to be respected. My desire to be world champion is still the same. I love what I do and above all I love Ferrari. Winning the title would be great, I hope this is the right year. The whole team has been working hard, I want to arrive at the Bahrain tests ready.” The Monegasque has been training hard over the winter and is aiming high: “I’ve gained a kilo and a half, but we are always very limited in going up in weight because there are limits to be respected. My desire to be world champion is still the same. I love what I do and above all I love Ferrari. Winning the title would be great, I hope this is the right year. The whole team has worked to the maximum, I want to arrive at the Bahrain tests ready,” explained the Rossa driver. After finishing second in the constructors’ championship last year, now the goal is to become world champions: “For me the Ferrari pair is always the best, but we have to prove on the track that we are the strongest. I would be disappointed if at the end of the year at least one of the two World Championships does not come. Definitely the goal is to win, for Ferrari it always has to be that. We will do everything to make the title a reality,” Leclerc concluded. The highly anticipated Lewis Hamilton also gave his thoughts on Ferrari’s new single-seater: “I’m excited, happy and proud. I’m having a great time. The car is going well, it’s still early and I can’t say too much. We had no problems today. Charles drove this morning, I drove in the afternoon. It’s the first Ferrari I’ll be able to drive and it’s hard to believe. I’m trying to enjoy every moment with this legendary team. There are so many differences with Mercedes. When you put on the suit and put on the helmet, it’s all exciting. If you think about the history and the past of this brand, for me as a kid it was a dream to race for Ferrari. I still find it hard to believe.” The multi-time British driver has already established a good relationship with his teammate: “I really enjoy working with Charles, we have already built a good friendship. We have things in common and we get along very well. The work team is a great environment, he has great experience in the team. I am trying hard to learn and settle in here. I don’t have the slightest doubt that this is the right time to be at Ferrari. I am grateful to be here, I want to further extend the legacy of this iconic brand. To be able to experience the fans wearing Red is something else entirely, it has left me speechless,” Hamilton concluded.- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
