During FP1 in Bahrain GP, Lewis Hamilton complained about a terrible feeling with his Ferrari SF-25, but he’s not the only one
FP1 of the Bahrain Grand Prix was anything but a routine free practice session for the drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari SF-25. One of the key performance factors was undoubtedly the scorching desert heat in Sakhir.
The seven-time world champion was particularly vocal over the radio during the first part of the session, repeatedly complaining about the car’s feel. Just ten minutes into FP1, Hamilton radioed his engineer Adami, saying: “The car balance doesn’t feel like it’s working properly, but it could just be the tyre grip.”
Hamilton struggling in Bahrain due to extreme heat
A few minutes later, his messages became even more direct. “The feeling is terrible,” he told Adami as he entered the pit lane. For most of FP1, the Brit lingered in the lower end of the timesheets—until a late lap on soft tyres vaulted him up to third, behind Norris and Gasly’s Alpine.
In the meantime, Hamilton also complained about the track conditions, describing the Sakhir surface as poor. Dusty tarmac and searing temperatures caused significant issues for every driver on track.
Among the most frustrated was Liam Lawson, who, when asked about balance, bluntly replied: “Shocking.” No further comment needed.
As the session progressed, lap times remained unusually high, largely due to the lack of grip on a track surface that reached nearly 50°C. Most drivers found it difficult to manage their cars under such extreme conditions.
Teams will now look ahead to the second free practice session, hoping for slightly milder temperatures that might offer better conditions for understanding the car and the circuit. In Ferrari’s case, it will also be a crucial session to properly evaluate the new floor that’s been making headlines over the past few days.
Read also: Ferrari bets on new Floor to Fix SF-25: All the upgrades explained – F1 Tech Bahrain GP
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