Gary Anderson Raises Concerns Over Ferrari’s SF-25: A Step Forward or More of the Same?

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By Newsroom with Agencies

March 10, 2025

The anticipation surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated move to Ferrari has reached fever pitch ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season. However, former F1 designer Gary Anderson has expressed doubts over whether the Scuderia’s new SF-25 car represents a significant improvement, raising concerns that Hamilton may encounter familiar struggles in his pursuit of an eighth world title.

Ferrari’s SF-25: A Mixed Bag?

Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has been one of the biggest stories in modern F1 history. After spending years grappling with the unpredictable handling of Mercedes’ ground-effect cars, fans hoped that his move to Ferrari would provide him with a more competitive and stable platform. However, after evaluating the SF-25’s performance during pre-season testing in Bahrain, Anderson fears that the car may not be the breakthrough Hamilton had hoped for.

Writing in The Telegraph, Anderson pointed out that the SF-25 lacks the “benign” characteristics Hamilton typically excels with. The seven-time World Champion has historically thrived with cars that provide predictable handling and allow him to extract every ounce of performance. Unfortunately, Anderson’s early observations suggest that Ferrari’s new challenger could present similar issues to Mercedes’ turbulent designs from previous seasons.

Hamilton’s Early Struggles with the SF-25

According to Anderson, pre-season testing revealed concerning traits in the SF-25’s handling, which could make Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari more challenging than expected.

“Hamilton likes a car that provides clear feedback and allows him to manage lap times effectively,” Anderson explained. “During testing, the SF-25 appeared to struggle with bouncing and unpredictability, causing him to run wide on several occasions.”

Although Hamilton remains optimistic about his new team, Anderson believes it is too early to determine whether Ferrari has provided him with a car capable of challenging for the title.

“In short, I am not sure if he has a package—yet—better suited to him than the problematic car he drove in 2024,” Anderson stated. “It is early days, though, and that may well change as he works with the team and as Charles Leclerc, who knows more about how a Ferrari should behave, continues to fine-tune its setup.”

Brundle Sounds Alarm on SF-25 Handling

Adding to the growing concern, racing driver and analyst Alex Brundle echoed Anderson’s sentiments during testing in Bahrain. Commentating on Hamilton’s laps, Brundle described the Ferrari’s handling as “really, really nasty.”

“That Ferrari looks difficult to drive,” Brundle said. “Exit at Turn 4, entry at Turn 11—way wide. Hamilton is really struggling to get it into the apex anywhere where it has its tail to the wind.”

Even when Hamilton improved his lap times, Brundle remained unconvinced, stating that the car appeared to have significant understeer and lacked balance.

“This is going to be a better lap for him, but it doesn’t look happy,” he observed. “Whatever they’ve done to that Ferrari for Hamilton, it isn’t friendly.”

Ferrari’s Technical Challenges and Leclerc’s Adjustments

It isn’t just Hamilton who is struggling to adjust to the SF-25. Reports from Italy indicate that Charles Leclerc has also faced issues with the car’s handling. Ferrari’s decision to revert to a pullrod front suspension layout—a design choice that Red Bull and McLaren have used effectively—has reportedly altered the car’s balance, shifting it from Leclerc’s preferred oversteer to understeer.

With the first race of the season rapidly approaching, Ferrari’s engineers, led by Loic Serra, are working tirelessly to optimize the car’s setup. While the team sees long-term development potential in the SF-25’s design, early indications suggest that mastering its new characteristics will require significant effort.

What’s Next for Hamilton and Ferrari?

As the 2025 season kicks off in Melbourne, all eyes will be on Ferrari to see if they can refine the SF-25 into a championship-caliber machine. Hamilton’s move to the Scuderia was fueled by the promise of a fresh start and renewed title hopes, but early testing suggests that his road to glory may not be as smooth as anticipated.

While Anderson and Brundle’s assessments paint a worrying picture, it is important to remember that pre-season testing is just the beginning. Ferrari has time to make adjustments, and Hamilton’s legendary adaptability could yet see him extract the best from his new machine.

The Australian Grand Prix will provide the first real test of Ferrari’s ambitions. Will the SF-25 evolve into a title contender, or will Hamilton’s dream of a record-breaking eighth championship be put on hold? The world will be watching.