Lewis Hamilton submits fresh Ferrari ‘requests’ after SF-25 shakedown – report

Lewis Hamilton called for more changes to his new Ferrari SF-25 after the car’s shakedown at Fiorano earlier this week, it has been claimed.

And the fixes are expected to arrive in time for the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain next Wednesday (February 26).

Lewis Hamilton requests further changes after Ferrari SF-25 debut

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher

After presenting the team’s F1 2025 car in the immediate aftermath of Formula 1’s season-launch event in London on Tuesday, Ferrari were back in Italy the following morning to conduct a filming day with the SF-25 car.

Charles Leclerc spent Wednesday morning in the cockpit at the Fiorano test track, completing around 30 laps before handing over to new team-mate Hamilton for the afternoon session.

The seven-time World Champion’s first taste of the SF-25 marked a return to the venue where Hamilton completed his maiden test as a Ferrari driver with the team’s 2023 car on January 22.

Hamilton’s fastest lap time with the SF-25 was around 0.8 seconds slower than Leclerc, although it is said that the drivers were carrying out different programs at Fiorano.

While Leclerc, entering his seventh full season as a Ferrari driver, was able to push from the off, Hamilton’s focus was on building his confidence and continuing his adaptation to the team’s functions and systems after an 11-year stint with rivals Mercedes.

report by the respected Italian publication Auto Racer has claimed that Hamilton has asked for ‘small details’ to be changed ahead of the start of F1’s official three-day test in Bahrain next week.

The seven-time World Champion’s requests are described as ‘relatively minor’ with no ‘strong differences’ between the settings used by Hamilton and Leclerc.

Hamilton’s latest requests come after he reportedly struggled with the pedals of the Ferrari during his test debut at Fiorano last month.

Unlike Mercedes, who are understood to use Carbon Industrie brakes, Ferrari’s braking materials are provided by competitors Brembo.

After a couple of lockups during his maiden Ferrari outing, Hamilton is believed to have called for adjustments to the pedals of the team’s 2023 car