Ferrari is not 'worried' by Hamilton's early difficulties.

      Lewis Hamilton is entering official pre-season testing this week with a speed disadvantage compared to his teammate Charles Leclerc. This is reported by the newspapers Marca (Spain) and La Repubblica (Italy), which state that during early testing of the 2025 car, Leclerc was eight tenths of a second faster than the seven-time world champion at the Fiorano track. According to the reports, unofficial timers captured Leclerc’s best lap at 56.06 seconds, marking the second fastest time ever recorded at the Ferrari-owned venue, trailing only Michael Schumacher’s record from 2004.

      Ferrari’s new technical director, Loic Serra, who, like Hamilton, recently switched to Maranello from Mercedes, expressed that he is not concerned about the 40-year-old driver's initial performance. "I am not scared," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Lewis is an exceptional driver who continually seeks new challenges," added the French engineer. "I am confident that at Ferrari, he will be as fast as he was during his peak years in Formula 1."

      Hamilton is upfront about still adjusting to his new cockpit, having exclusively driven Mercedes-powered cars throughout his lengthy F1 career. "Everything is different," said the Brit. "It's rare for any car to feel comfortable right away. However, I don’t believe I will need to alter my driving style. My style is quite similar to Charles’ and I am already feeling comfortable as I gradually adapt."

      For Leclerc, it must be an unusual experience to be perceived as the faster Ferrari driver at the start of 2025 while still being overshadowed by his highly renowned new teammate. "There is always considerable attention surrounding Ferrari," he remarked to L’Equipe, "but with Lewis joining, it has become even more significant. But that’s understandable; we’re discussing a legend of our sport. "My approach hasn’t changed. Yes, Lewis’ arrival adds a bit of chaos and encourages the media to follow us more than usual, but I have trained as I always do, striving to improve each winter."