McLaren has noticed an improvement in Ferrari’s pace over the UK Grand Prix weekend, making the rest of the 2025 Formula One season potentially more exciting, as Ferrari appears to be a consistent contender. Following a major upgrade introduced in Austria last weekend, Ferrari showed clear progress at Silverstone, emerging as McLaren’s closest rival during Friday practice.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc even topped the timesheets in the second segment but ended up qualifying fifth and sixth after a challenging final segment. Although Ferrari’s final results were similar to previous races, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes that Ferrari’s performance across the weekend matched their expectations and could complicate McLaren’s championship challenge.
Stella commented, "Ferrari seemed to be the strongest team when looking at the lap times in every session. The gap remained small, with Verstappen posting a late lap in Q3, but Ferrari looked the most competitive overall." He noted that their upgrade from Austria appeared effective, highlighting the close competition not just at the front of the grid but throughout the championship.
Rain is expected during Sunday’s Silverstone race, which could disrupt the running order further since teams hadn’t practiced in wet conditions. Stella found it tough to name a definitive favorite regardless of weather but was impressed by Ferrari’s strong long-run pace, mentioning they set impressive lap times on high fuel that McLaren couldn’t match.
He added that the competition remains very tight, with no clear dominant driver or team, including Max Verstappen, the two McLarens, two Ferraris, and possibly George Russell. The unpredictable weather could cause more fluctuations during the race, similar to last year’s British GP, which was marked by varying conditions.
For McLaren fans, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are set to start second and third, respectively, behind Red Bull pole-sitter Verstappen in their home race.
Fan Take: This development signals a thrillingly competitive season ahead, breaking the monotony of a single dominant team. For racing fans, the resurgence of Ferrari as a genuine threat on multiple fronts promises more intense battles and unpredictable races, elevating the excitement and drama of Formula One in 2025.
