The Formula 1 paddock at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was buzzing with an electric mix of anticipation and disbelief as Lewis Hamilton, in his scarlet Ferrari, defied expectations and roared to the top of the FP2 timing sheets. This sudden, dramatic turnaround for the seven-time world champion, who had languished in a dismal 13th place in FP1, has sent shockwaves through the sport, hinting at a potential 2025 breakthrough for the Scuderia. Yet, beneath the surface of Hamilton’s triumph, a candid assessment from teammate Charles Leclerc painted a sobering picture of the monumental challenge Ferrari still faces against a seemingly insurmountable McLaren.

Hamilton’s remarkable improvement in FP2 was attributed to a bold and entirely revamped braking setup. After a frustrating FP1 session, which he openly described as a “mess” due to a profound lack of braking confidence around Baku’s treacherous 90-degree corners, the British driver found his rhythm. “I would say P1 was a bit of a mess. This is a circuit where you have to have mega confidence on the brakes and I had some problems with the brakes,” Hamilton explained after FP2 . He elaborated on the difficulties of adapting to a new car on unfamiliar tracks: “Every track I’m going to is the first time driving the Ferrari at that circuit so acclimatizing to that is not easy” .

However, the team’s meticulous work between sessions yielded immediate results. “We made some changes going into P2 and the brakes finally were working perfect,” Hamilton revealed . This newfound confidence allowed him to extract significant performance, leading to a crucial advantage in braking zones. “I was able to really make some big advantage in terms of gaining on the brakes really happy to see the progress and it just goes to show the direction we’ve been going as a team,” he added, expressing gratitude for the team’s patience and relentless push . While he tempered expectations, reminding everyone it was “still only practice,” the sheer scale of the improvement was undeniable, providing a much-needed morale boost for Ferrari. His final flying lap was aided by a strategic “toe” from his teammate, Charles Leclerc, a testament to the collaborative spirit within the team.

While Hamilton celebrated his newfound pace, Charles Leclerc, who had topped the time sheets for much of FP2 before the late surge of high-fuel runs, offered a more cautious, albeit brutally honest, assessment of Ferrari’s position. Despite Ferrari’s strong showing, Leclerc admitted to having “left something on the table” in practice . More significantly, he voiced a stark concern about the Woking outfit, McLaren, whose raw pace, even with Friday’s mishaps, appeared to him to be “in another world” .

Leclerc, a four-time pole-sitter around the Baku City Circuit, is no stranger to the unique demands of this street track. Yet, his candid outlook suggested that a victory shot in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix might be an elusive dream for now. “It was okay, I think there’s a lot more potential especially coming from me. I did a great job today but overall we seem to be pretty strong,” Leclerc stated . The “big butt” in his statement quickly followed, highlighting his apprehension: “it looks like McLaren is in another world literally and I think people will be very surprised tomorrow because Lando didn’t finish some laps that were very very impressive” . His realism continued, “I doubt we’ll be in the fight with them but compared to the others it seems that we are kind of in a good place. I don’t think there’s a battle for the win for now but never say never” . This honest evaluation, even in the face of Hamilton’s P1, underscored the formidable challenge posed by their rivals.

Ferrari Team Principal, Fred Vasseur, echoed Leclerc’s cautious optimism and acknowledged McLaren’s untapped potential as the true benchmark. While encouraged by the Scuderia’s early speed in Baku, Vasseur hinted that Ferrari might have shown “a bit more of their hand” in FP2 compared to the Mercedes-powered cars, suggesting they had “turned the wick up” to make an early statement . However, he quickly grounded these thoughts in reality, stating, “Dreaming is never a good thing, we need to focus on what we’re doing, the margins are very tight” . He explicitly mentioned McLaren’s uncompleted fast laps and Mercedes’ potential for holding back engine power, implying a tighter competition than the FP2 results might suggest. “McLaren didn’t manage to complete a fast lap but they were fast too,” Vasseur told Sky Sports Italia . “Mercedes probably didn’t use the engine to its full potential which means that tomorrow’s situation will be the same as we saw this morning with everyone very close together” .

Vasseur stressed the importance of race simulations, noting, “We only did four to five laps but it went very well”. His focus remained firmly on internal performance: “We have to focus on ourselves and get the most out of what we have. It was a good Friday but we don’t know the fuel levels of the others and we haven’t seen their real potential” . This measured approach from the team principal underscored the reality that while Hamilton’s pace was a positive sign, the true test of Ferrari’s progress would come in qualifying and the race.

Beyond the immediate battle on track, Charles Leclerc’s unwavering devotion to Ferrari remains a compelling narrative. In his seventh season with the Scuderia, after a rookie year at Sauber, then Alfa Romeo, Leclerc has become the undeniable face of Ferrari and a beloved figure among the passionate Tifosi. His loyalty and electrifying driving style have cemented this bond, even as many lament that his world-class talent has been “squandered” during Ferrari’s lean years. This season, with the underwhelming SF25 yielding just one pole and four podiums despite the combined efforts of Leclerc and Hamilton, has been no different.

When pressed about why he hasn’t “jumped ship” to a more consistently competitive team, Leclerc’s answer was disarmingly simple: “Because I love this team very much. I think that’s the answer” . His motivation, he explained, stems from a deep-seated desire to restore Ferrari to its former glory. “I’ve always loved Ferrari and that’s where I draw my motivation from because I want to bring back Ferrari to the top no matter how long it takes. I’ll do absolutely everything until I stop believing in the project but at the moment I’m fully into it. I’m fully working on it and that’s what motivates me” .

Leclerc candidly admitted the sting of watching McLaren surge ahead this season, acknowledging the disappointment of being “quite a few steps behind McLaren” at the start of the season . However, his competitive spirit quickly reframes these setbacks into new targets. “But then you reset and you find your motivation in other goals, in other targets which is now to hopefully get a win this year,” he said . He acknowledged the situation: “It’s underwhelming compared to where we wanted to be but it’s a situation we are in and as a driver I’ve got to make the best out of this situation not only for the team but also for myself” . The presence of a strong teammate like Hamilton also fuels his drive: “I’m very competitive as well so the fact that we’ve got two cars is also something that pushes me to keep being at the top of my game and to keep improving” .

Speculation often surrounds drivers of Leclerc’s caliber, particularly regarding their career trajectory. However, the 27-year-old revealed his secret to navigating this pressure: tuning out the noise and maintaining laser focus. “This is what I’ve been doing since I started with the team,” he explained . While his early years, particularly 2019, were challenging with immense hype surrounding his move to Ferrari, he learned the importance of taking “a step back and to not always react on emotions and on what’s being said around” . For Leclerc, the path forward is clear: “I think it’s very important to just stay focused and on that I think we are doing a good job but not good enough because we must be back winning soon” .

As Lewis Hamilton finds a new rhythm within Ferrari and Charles Leclerc clings to his unwavering hope, the Scuderia appears to edge closer to a potential redemption. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix served as a compelling microcosm of their journey – a glimpse of raw potential, a stark reminder of the challenges, and an enduring testament to the passion that drives them. The question that lingers in the air, however, is whether this Baku surge represents a genuine resurgence for Ferrari or merely a fleeting flash of brilliance. The answers, as always, will unfold on the track.