Lewis Hamilton pinpointed a power deficit as a key factor separating Ferrari‘s performance from McLaren‘s during recent track sessions, as reported on 2025/08/30. The Mercedes driver’s assessment comes amid ongoing efforts to close the gap in Formula 1 competition.
The discrepancy in speed is particularly noticeable on turns, where McLaren appears to be gaining significant ground. This difference impacts the championship standings and the strategies teams will employ in upcoming races. Addressing this performance gap is crucial for Ferrari to contend for race wins and the overall championship title.
“I think this is a mixture of several things. But we need more power to quickly cross the turns like McLaren here,” Hamilton stated. He acknowledged the complexity of identifying the precise source of the advantage, questioning whether it stems from aerodynamic efficiency or tire performance.
Hamilton continued, “does this force come from the streamlined load or from the tires? It is indeed tough to know that. Thay may enter the tires in a different operating window from us, perhaps.” He suggested McLaren may be optimizing tire usage more effectively, allowing them to maintain higher speeds through corners.
“Or it is a mixture of the two. I think McLaren certainly possesses more than everyone. But they do not suffer from traction,” Hamilton added. He explained that attempting to match McLaren’s pace would necessitate adjustments to Ferrari’s wing configuration, potentially compromising overall efficiency.
“If we try to match them, we will have to raise the level of the wing several levels, but with the efficiency of a fewer wing, than it is just a mixture to make the car more stable during the turns,” he elaborated.The trade-off between downforce and aerodynamic drag presents a significant engineering challenge.
Hamilton also highlighted the impact of wind conditions on the car’s handling. “I think the wind makes things really difficult. There are back winds at the first turn and crosses in many places. I think this car is very sensitive to the wind,” he concluded, indicating that external factors are exacerbating the existing performance issues.
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