During the first two practice sessions of the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Circuit, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton ran a higher downforce rear wing than his teammate Charles Leclerc, which contributed to his slower top speed. The seven-time world champion, returning after the summer break amid personal grief following the loss of his dog Roscoe, showed strong pace early but was unable to match Leclerc’s straight-line velocity, trailing by 5-6 km/h in FP2. This setup choice impacted Hamilton’s qualifying preparation, resulting in only a tenth-place finish in the chaotic second practice session.
Despite this, both drivers and the team remain hopeful that the SF-25 will hold its competitiveness and challenge rivals such as McLaren and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for pole position on race day.
Hamilton Reflects Positively on Singapore Practice Progress
Lewis Hamilton shared encouraging insights about his first experience driving the Ferrari SF-25 at the night-time Singapore track. According to RacingNews365, Hamilton said,
“It was a good day, I enjoyed driving the car, it is the first time I’m driving a Ferrari at this track, and I’ve always wondered all these years from looking at on-boards, what the differences would be. It is the first time I got to feel that, and it was positive, but obviously, McLaren was very fast, and getting a clean lap was not easy.”
“But I feel there are a lot of positives [from Friday], a lot of learnings, and I’m quite happy with the progress we’ve made from [FP1]. We made steps forward, so I feel like overnight, we probably won’t change much, but of course, we’ll try to refine the setup and see if we can extract a little bit more to get as close as we can to the McLarens.”
Hamilton’s comments highlight a blend of cautious optimism and determination as he aims to improve his performance relative to McLaren and maintain Ferrari’s challenge during qualifying and the race.
Context of Hamilton’s Past Success and Current Aspirations
Hamilton’s form in Singapore has drawn comparisons to his exceptional 2018 qualifying round at the same circuit, which was instrumental in securing the race victory and ultimately the World Championship that year. Now, at 40, Hamilton is determined to replicate a similar high level of achievement with Ferrari this weekend, targeting his first podium finish of the season in the main race.
Since returning from the mid-season break, Hamilton has demonstrated consistent race pace and adaptability to the SF-25, signaling a positive trajectory despite the technical challenges faced. Meanwhile, Leclerc continues to set a strong benchmark, pushing the team forward.
Team’s Prospects and Strategic Adjustments Ahead of Qualifying
With Ferrari drivers facing stiff competition from McLaren and Verstappen’s Red Bull, adjustments to the car’s setup are expected overnight to close the gap in both downforce and speed. Hamilton’s higher downforce wing sacrifices straight-line speed but can offer better cornering grip, a choice that may require fine-tuning for optimal balance. Leclerc’s more streamlined wing allowed for faster speeds on the straights, providing him an advantage.
The team plans to carefully calibrate this trade-off to maximize qualifying positions and race performance. Both drivers remain motivated and focused on maintaining strong results amid a competitive field at Singapore’s demanding street circuit.
Significance of Insights into Hamilton’s Pace Deficit and What Lies Ahead
Understanding the technical reasons behind Hamilton’s pace lag behind Leclerc sheds light on the challenges Ferrari faces in optimizing the SF-25’s setup in Singapore’s unique conditions. This knowledge helps explain the visible gap during practice and informs the team’s ongoing efforts to improve performance.
As the race weekend progresses, how Ferrari manages downforce settings and tire strategies will be crucial to competing successfully against McLaren’s speed and Verstappen’s formidable pace. Hamilton’s steady progress and reflective mindset indicate he remains a key contender for points and possibly a podium, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Singapore Grand Prix.
