F1 news: Ferrari eyes Spanish GP revival amid technical shifts and Lewis Hamilton’s winning history
Ferrari head into the Spanish Grand Prix weekend with cautious optimism, as Team Principal Fred Vasseur downplays talk of a rift between Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer Riccardo Adami.
The team, buoyed by Charles Leclerc’s strong performance in Monaco, is also preparing for a potentially season-defining technical change that could shake up the competitive order.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo breaks down the state of play at Ferrari ahead of Barcelona - from internal dynamics and recent performance gains to the looming impact of new front wing regulations and Hamilton’s formidable history at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
No rift between Hamilton and Adami, Vasseur insists
Following the Monaco Grand Prix, a radio exchange between Hamilton and Adami sparked speculation about tension within the Ferrari camp.
Hamilton had asked Adami, “are you upset with me or something?” after the race, but Vasseur quickly dismissed the idea of any discord.
He explained that communication protocols during races often dictate when engineers can respond to drivers, particularly in tricky sections like Monaco’s tight corners.
“When a driver asks a question between Turn 1 and Turn 3, we often have to wait until the tunnel to reply,” Vasseur explained.
“It’s not that we’re ignoring them, it’s just about timing. Hamilton was in a tough spot on track, and it’s completely normal for drivers to be intense in those moments.”
Hamilton’s fifth-place finish in Monaco, achieved by clever strategy and overtakes, was a rare highlight in a season where Ferrari have struggled to match expectations.
Leclerc’s Monaco podium a bright spot in a tough start to the season
Leclerc’s runner-up finish in Monaco provided a welcome boost for Ferrari, especially after a difficult outing at Imola.
The Monegasque driver narrowly missed out on pole to Lando Norris and finished just three seconds behind the McLaren driver on race day.
It marked Leclerc’s best result of the year, alongside his earlier third place in Saudi Arabia.
Reflecting on the early part of the season, Vasseur admitted that Ferrari had fallen short of their own targets.
“We didn’t have a strong start to the year. We have to be honest, we underperformed compared to expectations,” he said.
Brake issues, tyre warm-up challenges, and inconsistency in qualifying have all held the team back.
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New front wing rules set to shake up the grid
The Spanish Grand Prix marks the arrival of a crucial new technical directive, TD018, which aims to tighten regulations on front wings and clamp down on so-called flexi wings.
Ferrari, like many teams, have been preparing for this change for months, and Vasseur believes it could be a game-changer for the 2025 season.
“We’ve been working on the new front wing for a long time,” Vasseur said.
“Barcelona has been circled on everyone’s calendar because of the new rules. It’s impossible to predict exactly how it will impact each team, but we’re focused on maximising the potential of our package.”
Leclerc also acknowledged the buzz in the paddock, hinting that some teams might feel the effects of the directive more than others.
“You hear rumours that certain teams will be affected more, but we’ll have to wait and see. I don’t expect massive changes on our side, but it could bring us closer,” he said.
Hamilton’s winning history in Spain offers hope
Despite Ferrari’s winless streak in 2025, Hamilton heads to Barcelona with a strong record that could inspire confidence.
He has six career victories at the Spanish Grand Prix, tying him with Michael Schumacher for the most wins at the venue.
Hamilton’s victories in Spain came in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, while Max Verstappen has dominated in recent years, winning in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Whether history will repeat itself depends on how the teams adapt to the new front wing rules. McLaren, leading the Constructors’ Championship by 172 points, have been the dominant force this season, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris holding the top two spots in the Drivers’ standings.
The upcoming race could be pivotal, with both Ferrari and Red Bull hoping the new regulations narrow the gap to McLaren.
As the grid prepares for the Spanish GP, the combination of technical changes and Hamilton’s past success at the circuit adds an extra layer of intrigue.
With Ferrari’s updated front wing and Leclerc’s recent podium form, there’s hope that the Scuderia can mount a stronger challenge in the second half of the season.
