Leclerc feels 'excitement' at Ferrari ahead of Bahrain test

Charles Leclerc says a palpable sense of excitement surrounds Ferrari and the entire F1 paddock as teams prepare for the final pre-season test in Bahrain, following an encouraging first week of running in Barcelona where the SF-26 showed promising pace.

Why it matters:

After a winless 2024 season that saw Ferrari finish a distant fourth in the constructors' championship, any sign of progress is a massive morale boost. The new technical regulations for 2025 have reset the competitive order, making strong pre-season testing crucial for establishing an early foundation to challenge teams like McLaren and Red Bull.

The details:

• Promising Start: During the first week of winter testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Lewis Hamilton set the unofficial fastest lap of the week in the Ferrari, topping the timesheets ahead of Mercedes' George Russell.
• Driver Adaptation: Leclerc highlighted that the sweeping regulation changes, particularly a greater emphasis on energy management, require significant adaptation from both drivers and teams to maximize the new car's potential.
• Paddock-Wide Optimism: The Monegasque driver noted the excitement extends beyond Maranello, as all teams are discovering their new packages under the radically different rules.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the final pre-season test in Bahrain, where teams will gather more critical data in conditions more representative of the early-season races.

• A major off-track storyline involves the new power unit regulations, with Ferrari, Audi, and Honda reportedly urging the FIA to investigate a potential 'loophole' related to compression ratios that Mercedes and Red Bull may have exploited.
• The governing body is under pressure to clarify or potentially ban this technical interpretation before the season begins in earnest at the Australian Grand Prix, setting the stage for the competitive reality of the new era.