F1 news: Ferrari gears up for a Saudi resurgence as momentum builds with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
With the 2025 Formula 1 season settling into its rhythm, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is shaping up to be a potential turning point for Scuderia Ferrari.
After a challenging start to the campaign, signs of a revival emerged in Bahrain.
Now, with a performance-friendly circuit layout and a car finally responding to upgrades, Ferrari head into Jeddah with genuine optimism - and a shot at a podium that once seemed out of reach.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo explores how Ferrari can build on the momentum from Bahrain.
Bahrain sparks a Ferrari comeback
Ferrari’s fortunes began to shift at the Bahrain GP.
The team introduced a five-element upgrade package to the SF-25 - four floor-related changes and a redesigned rear wing - designed to tackle the car’s early-season weaknesses in both aerodynamics and mechanical grip.
These adjustments had an immediate impact.
Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton showed a competitive edge throughout the weekend, culminating in top-five finishes.
Analysts and engineers alike noted the car’s vastly improved operating window - nearly double that of its performance in Suzuka just weeks earlier.
While a poorly timed safety car robbed Leclerc of a likely podium finish, the pace and potential were clear for all to see.
According to Ferrari’s internal evaluations, the new floor played a critical role.
It allowed the SF-25 to maintain competitive performance across varying fuel loads and track conditions, a stark contrast to the earlier rounds where the car struggled outside of qualifying trim.
The Jeddah circuit: A perfect match
Now comes Jeddah - a fast, flowing street circuit that promises to play directly into the SF-25’s evolving strengths.
The Corniche Circuit’s recently resurfaced asphalt offers far smoother grip than Bahrain’s abrasive layout.
Tyre degradation is expected to be minimal, with Pirelli bringing its softest compounds (C3, C4, and C5), which should further enhance Ferrari’s race pace.
Ferrari will run a low-downforce configuration this weekend, taking advantage of reduced wing angles and lower ride heights to maximise ground effect.
While a previous low ride height setup led to Hamilton’s disqualification in China due to excessive plank wear, Ferrari has since adapted.
By running a slightly more conservative setup in Bahrain, they’ve found a new baseline that balances performance with regulatory compliance.
The Jeddah layout, with its sequence of high-speed corners and minimal braking zones, aligns closely with the DNA of Ferrari’s 2025 car.
The team has spent hours in the simulator perfecting suspension setups and improving mechanical traction - particularly vital for navigating the circuit’s demanding S-curves and rapid changes of direction.
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Driver confidence and team morale on the rise
There’s a sense of quiet confidence building within the Maranello camp.
While Leclerc and Hamilton currently sit fifth and seventh in the Drivers’ Championship respectively, and Ferrari holds fourth in the Constructors’ standings, there’s a growing belief that the gap to the front-running teams is closing.
Hamilton, despite early-season hurdles and a well-publicized disqualification in China, remains composed.
His integration into Ferrari continues to deepen, and his experience is proving invaluable in helping the team understand and fine-tune the SF-25.
Should he set the fastest lap in Saudi Arabia, the seven time world champion would quietly break a long-standing record by becoming the first driver to score fastest laps in 16 consecutive seasons - a footnote that speaks volumes about his consistency, but not something that’s taking the spotlight this weekend.
Leclerc, meanwhile, continues to extract the most from the car, even when conditions haven’t suited Ferrari’s strengths.
With a smoother track and a low-deg race expected, this could the Monagsque’s best shot yet at climbing back onto the podium.
Looking ahead: Momentum into Miami
Jeddah is not the endgame, but it may be the turning point. Behind the scenes, Ferrari are working on further refinements to its 2025 package, with another set of updates already in development for May’s Miami Grand Prix.
If the current trajectory holds, those updates could arrive to a team that’s already found its rhythm and is once again fighting at the front.
The 2025 season is still young, but Saudi Arabia offers Ferrari more than just another race - it offers a statement of intent.
After years of inconsistency, strategic missteps, and technical gremlins, the Prancing Horse might finally be ready to gallop.
