Despite lacking top speed, Ferrari’s drivers impressed with balance and consistency on a tricky, windy Friday at the high-speed Suzuka circuit.
Ferrari may not be topping the timesheets just yet, but there’s a quiet confidence within the team after Friday’s practice sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.
Lewis Hamilton clocked the fourth-fastest time in Free Practice 2, narrowly ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished seventh. The pair had also shown promising pace earlier in FP1, with Leclerc just edging Hamilton.
“It was a great day,” Hamilton said. “This track is incredible.”
Despite blustery conditions and a dramatic crash at Turn 1—thankfully without injury to Jack Doohan—Hamilton was upbeat.
“It was pretty windy, especially through the Esses, but we got through our program. There’s still more performance to find. We’re not the quickest right now, but it’s a good starting point.”
Leclerc echoed that optimism despite finishing lower on the timing charts.
“It was a productive day. We tested a lot of different setups and I’ve learned a lot about how to get the most from the car moving forward,” he explained.
“We didn’t get a clean run in FP2 due to traffic and red flags, so the lap times don’t tell the full story. I think there’s more pace to come. The changing wind direction will be something to watch heading into Saturday.”
Ferrari Holds Floor For Bahrain
Meanwhile, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur addressed why the new floor for the SF-25 won’t debut until the Bahrain Grand Prix. An issue was found with the current design—it’s too sensitive to ride height, affecting downforce.
“In the cost cap era, we can’t just bring major updates like a new floor or front wing to every race,” Vasseur said. “Suzuka is a high-risk track with its tight corners, and the cost of producing multiple spare parts is simply too high.”
Still, Vasseur remains encouraged by the progress.
“It was a tricky day to get everything aligned, but both Charles and Lewis were happy with the balance. We’re not as far off McLaren as it may seem. This morning, Lewis looked very strong. Tomorrow’s wind shift will change everything again—it’s going to be about adapting quickly.”
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Suzuka Test: Ferrari Close, But Not Quite There Yet
Suzuka Test: Ferrari Close, But Not Quite There Yet