Ferrari’s Bahrain Upgrade Package Shows Progress, Yet Struggles to Challenge McLaren

Good news for Ferrari as their comprehensive upgrade package appears to be yielding results in the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix. However, the bad news is that the Scuderia still lags significantly behind McLaren in terms of performance.

Ferrari’s Upgrade Package Detailed

With upgrades being scarce among teams this season, Ferrari led the charge with a substantial package. This included significant revisions to the floor from the front edge to the floor fences and the diffuser at the rear of the car. These modifications helped Charles Leclerc match George Russell’s pace in second practice, outperforming Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, albeit half a second behind the leading McLaren of Oscar Piastri.

Lewis Hamilton trailed in eighth position, but expressed optimism about the new floor he had at his disposal. “The upgrades are definitely working,” Hamilton said, expressing gratitude to the team for their hard work. He acknowledged the challenges involved in developing and implementing these upgrades, particularly in the wind tunnel and fabrication processes.

McLaren’s Dominance Unchallenged

While Red Bull’s performance requires a dose of skepticism due to the unpredictability of Friday practice, it is undeniable that McLaren holds a commanding lead. Leclerc admitted, “We’re just not fast enough when we look at the ; they are on another planet for now.” This disparity is frustrating but serves as motivation for Leclerc to close the gap as soon as possible.

Despite the positive impact of the upgrades, the gap between Ferrari and McLaren remains substantial. Leclerc emphasized the need to maximize the potential of the current car setup, aiming for positions such as third, fourth, or fifth. He is hopeful that Ferrari will return to being the fastest car on track eventually, at which point the focus will shift to maximizing performance once more.

Verstappen Remains Closest Challenger, Ferrari and Mercedes Evenly Matched

Leclerc expects Max Verstappen to remain Ferrari‘s closest competitor, but believes that both and Mercedes are evenly matched at this stage. He noted that Verstappen may have had an advantage in second practice due to having one less set of tires compared to the drivers. However, Leclerc remains confident that can find additional performance by optimizing their car and upgrades.

Photos from the Bahrain Grand Prix – Practice sessions capture the intensity and competition among the teams as they strive for victory in the 2025 season.