According to Le Mans Series driver Jamie Chadwick, Lewis Hamilton has performed beyond expectations at Ferrari. However, she suggests that achieving a significant result at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend will be challenging for him.
In his first three races for Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton`s best finish was seventh place in Japan. He finished tenth in his debut race in Australia and was disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix due to excessive plank wear after initially finishing sixth.
Despite these challenges, Hamilton secured victory in the sprint race in China. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, he mentioned that Ferrari had identified a performance issue with his car, which they are aiming to resolve for improved results.
Currently, Ferrari is 76 points behind McLaren in the Constructors` Championship.
Chadwick commented on the Hamilton-Ferrari partnership, stating that it has, in some respects, surpassed initial expectations. She pointed to China as a significant step forward in performance within just two races, considering the novelty of the car for Hamilton.
She also noted Hamilton`s comments about a potential ongoing issue that has slightly hampered his performance in recent races.
Regarding the Bahrain track, Chadwick believes it is familiar to Hamilton and Ferrari from pre-season testing, which could offer a better opportunity for them to perform well.
However, she anticipates that McLaren`s current pace will make it difficult for Ferrari to close the gap significantly.
Bahrain Track Favors McLaren
McLaren has shown strong performance, winning the first two Grands Prix of the season. Lando Norris leads the championship after winning in Melbourne, and Oscar Piastri triumphed in China.
Although Max Verstappen of Red Bull interrupted McLaren`s winning streak with a victory in Japan, Chadwick believes Bahrain could be more favorable for McLaren, especially considering pre-season testing took place there.
She added that track conditions in Bahrain during the race weekend, with hotter temperatures, might further benefit McLaren, as Mercedes tends to perform better in cooler conditions.
Chadwick emphasized the Bahrain circuit`s familiarity for all teams due to extensive pre-season testing, suggesting that the competition will be very tight. Success, she believes, will come down to execution and minimizing mistakes, particularly in qualifying.
She highlighted the close competition between McLaren`s drivers and stressed the importance of consistent performance and execution for achieving the best possible results in the upcoming race.
Marcus Prine