Lewis Hamilton will take part in Ferrari’s private testing session at Mugello to evaluate the team’s new rear suspension upgrade, marking a shift from initial reports that suggested only Charles Leclerc would be involved. The British driver, who joined Ferrari after a lengthy tenure with Mercedes, is scheduled to gain valuable track time with the SF-25 as the team seeks to enhance its performance.
After spending twelve years securing seven world championships with Mercedes, Hamilton’s first season with the Maranello-based squad has been challenging. Despite his pedigree, he has struggled to match his previous success, facing difficulties adapting to Ferrari’s car and team dynamics.
Challenges Faced by Hamilton and Performance Context
Throughout the 2025 season, Hamilton has encountered numerous obstacles, adjusting to Ferrari’s powertrain and brake systems while learning a new team’s approach. Early in the year, his younger teammate Charles Leclerc consistently outperformed him, leaving Hamilton trailing in the standings. However, at the British Grand Prix, Hamilton closed the gap, outperforming Leclerc in a weekend where the Monegasque driver failed to score points, improving his position by 12 points.
Amid rumors that Ferrari intended to test the rear suspension with Leclerc and Antonio Giovinazzi, recent updates from Autoracer reveal Hamilton will also be involved in the Mugello session. This decision aims to provide Hamilton with further on-track experience and help him adjust to the planned technical upgrade.
Hamilton’s Criticism of the Ferrari SF-25 During the Season
Hamilton has voiced frustration over the handling of the SF-25 during the current campaign, pointing out specific weaknesses that have hindered his racing efforts. In comments reported by Formula 1, he described the British GP as a difficult race and highlighted how the car’s behavior compounded the challenges.
“[It was a] difficult race, not a great one from my side. I did the best I could. As it showed there was plenty of mistakes out there and very, very tricky conditions, in really a very, very hard car to drive here – this car doesn’t like those conditions. Not ideal, but we got some points at least.”
“The tyres [were] dropping off, the car doesn’t like low-speed corners, lots of understeer, and I started knocking out the left front and then just couldn’t keep up.”
These comments underline his ongoing struggle to find balance and pace in the Ferrari, which has underperformed in certain technical areas this season.
Current Standing and Outlook for Ferrari’s Development
Following 12 rounds of racing, Hamilton is sixth in the championship, narrowly ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. His involvement in the Mugello test represents an important step for Ferrari, as the team tries to close the gap to rivals and improve on key performance weaknesses. The rear suspension update is particularly critical in addressing understeer and tire wear issues that have hampered Hamilton this season.
How Hamilton performs with the upgraded SF-25 during testing could influence Ferrari’s development direction for upcoming races, providing crucial feedback to the engineers. This opportunity to gather data at Mugello will be significant for both the driver and the team as they aim to enhance competitiveness over the remainder of the season.