Ferrari came into the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix weekend with mounting pressure after a mixed start to the season at the Australian GP.
Ferrari: A Weekend of Highs and Lows
Expectations were high as Ferrari aimed to recover from early-season woes and leverage the pace they’d glimpsed in pre-season testing and towards the end of last season.
By the end of Saturday’s action, the Scuderia had plenty to celebrate – but also clear lessons to learn ahead of Sunday’s main race.
Friday: Free Practice and Sprint Qualifying – Hamilton’s Milestone Pole
Friday kicked off with Free Practice 1, where Lewis Hamilton showed signs of confidence in the SF-25.
His session times hinted at a solid setup, and this momentum carried through to Sprint Qualifying, where he delivered a sensational lap to clinch his first pole position since joining Ferrari.
It was a historic achievement, marking Ferrari’s first pole position since 2024 and giving the team a morale boost after their Melbourne setback.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc wasn’t as one with his car, unlike his teammate, leaving him further down the grid. His frustration was palpable, and it was clear that setup adjustments would be necessary if he was to challenge in the Sprint and main race.
Saturday’s Triumph
Ferrari’s fortunes continued to fluctuate on Saturday.
In the Sprint race, Hamilton started from pole and quickly asserted his dominance. He maintained his lead from the start, expertly managing his tyres.
As the Sprint progressed, the seven-time world champion strategically allowed Max Verstappen to close in during the early stages, a calculated move designed to keep Verstappen in dirty air and wear down his tyres.
Once Hamilton had gauged the threat, he unleashed the full pace of his SF-25, gradually pulling away and building a commanding gap.
By the checkered flag, Hamilton had secured his first sprint race victory for Ferrari, finishing six seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri and Verstappen.
His racecraft, including his nuanced understanding of tyre degradation and race strategy, was on full display, leaving fans and pundits alike buzzing with excitement about what Ferrari could achieve in the main race.
Leclerc’s sprint race, however, was less straightforward and fraught with challenges. Still grappling with his SF-25, which had plagued him all weekend, he struggled to make significant progress. Ultimately, he finished P5.
READ MORE: Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton’s Resurgence, Oscar Piastri’s Triumph, and More
And Turmoil
Later in the day, main race qualifying added another twist to the weekend’s narrative, though this time it wasn’t in Ferrari’s favour.
Hamilton’s earlier success in the Sprint wasn’t replicated in main qualifying, as Ferrari struggled with balance and consistency issues.
Despite pushing to the limit, Hamilton could only manage P5.
“We started really optimistic naturally, but then we made just a couple of small changes, tweaks to the car, and it really put the car on a knife edge,” Hamilton said via Autosport.
“I think the wind picked up a little bit as well, so the car was just trickier today. It was harder to put laps together. You want a car that’s balanced. At the moment, from one corner to the next, the car has a different balance.
“You just want a car that you can rely on. When you attack the corners, you know it’s going to stay with you instead of lock-up and go on or snap into oversteer and, when it’s unpredictable, then you’ve got no hope.”
He acknowledged the challenges but remained upbeat after his earlier Sprint success, adding:
“Getting my first Sprint pole and then win in a Ferrari was such a special feeling,” he said.
“The car felt strong, and we managed to bring everything together to cross the line first and bring home some good points for the team. The reaction from the crowd was just incredible.
“Qualifying was tougher, and we didn’t get the most out of the car over a lap today, but clearly we have the potential, and now it’s about working hard to make sure we can consistently unlock that pace across a weekend.
“The taste of winning has made us all even hungrier, and although it will be tough tomorrow, we know the work we need to do.”
On the other side of the garage, Leclerc continued to endure a difficult weekend.
The Monegasque revealed that he had opted for a different setup than Hamilton’s but was considering switching to Hamilton’s configuration for the remainder of the weekend.
After Grand Prix qualifying, Leclerc told Canal+ that partially adopting Hamilton’s setup gave him a better feel for the car and that he expected stronger race pace on Sunday.
Looking Ahead to the Main Race
With Hamilton starting the main race from the front row and Leclerc aiming to fight his way through the pack, Ferrari’s prospects were a mix of cautious optimism and strategic uncertainty.
Shanghai’s high-degradation circuit had teams knowing tyre strategy would be crucial, and Hamilton’s mastery of tyre management in the Sprint suggested he could be well-positioned to contend for victory.
For Leclerc, much depended on whether the overnight changes could unlock more pace and stability in his car. A top-five finish was within reach for both of them, but any further progress would require bold strategy calls and opportunistic racing.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: F1 Academy 2025 Season Kicks Off with High Drama and a Maiden Victory in Shanghai
Struggles for the Scuderia
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix proved to be a mixed bag for Ferrari, with both drivers facing different challenges and outcomes.
Leclerc’s race was marked by early drama. At the start, the Monegasque made contact with Hamilton, which caused front wing damage and resulted in the loss of an end plate.
Despite this setback, Leclerc showcased impressive pace, opting not to change his front wing during his pit stop. He saw the chequered flag in P5 – a commendable result given the circumstances.
Hamilton, meanwhile, struggled to replicate his Sprint success. Starting from P5, he lacked the pace to challenge the frontrunners. The Brit ultimately finished in P6, behind his teammate.
A Weekend of Highs, Lows, and Lessons
Ferrari’s weekend in Shanghai has already offered plenty of drama, from Hamilton’s landmark pole and Sprint victory to challenges in finding consistency.
The signs of progress are undeniable. The key lies within the Scuderia finding consistent front-running form – and Hamilton’s growing confidence in the car could be a game-changer as the season unfolds.
READ NEXT: Yuki Tsunoda Could Replace Liam Lawson at the Japanese GP
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / IPA Sport
Recording Date: 22.03.2025
