Motorsports
Ferrari is not getting carried away by its top times in Barcelona
The new Ferrari F1-75 no doubt proved quite fast and extremely reliable on the first day of F1 winter testing in Barcelona, but everyone knows the early tests aren’t entirely representative of reality – including Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainth.
Scuderia’s new car, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainth, was at the top of the table for most of the day at the Monmelo circuit, setting the fastest laps with a Pirelli center tire (C3).
But in the end, McLaren chose to steal the glory by putting the soft rubber (C4) on Lando Norris’ MCL36 in the final hour, with the result of the Brit putting in two consecutive faster laps and climbing to the top.
Although at the end of the day they were wary of what they said about the new Ferrari F1-75, the Scuderia drivers were particularly pleased not only with its speed but also with its reliability – as it was the car doing the most (153) laps completed of the day.
“It was the first time we could push our new car and it felt good to be back in the cockpit.” said Leclerc. “We did what we set out to do all day without any problems, which is good for our new car. We did a lot of laps today, more than any other team, and that’s a great base to continue.”
Monegasque Castle: “It’s impossible to even have a clear picture. The first feeling I have is not good but we shouldn’t get carried away with the laps today as it’s still the first few days and everyone hides their true speed. “
For his part, Carlos Saint said: “We were finally able to push today and start learning about these cars. Times don’t matter in this initial phase, but it was very positive that we did a satisfactory number of laps and got a good feel for the car.
We still have a lot of work to do, but we are already feeling some changes compared to last year. I don’t think it will take long to get used to (the new car). No doubt finding the last tenths of its speed will be difficult, but this is the most interesting part. Anyway, that’s not our goal here in Barcelona because we still have a lot of tests ahead of us before the first game,” concluded the Spaniard.
As for McLaren, Lando Norris also pointed out that his first year with MCL36 at the start of winter testing. “It’s too early to say anything” said the Brit “We are in first place and everyone will think that we will win the (first) race, but nothing. The car gives me a good feeling, we’ve made some improvements from the start but we’re still at the beginning and although we were great today everything can change up to the first race, then again in the second.
The pace of development that each team will bring to its car in the first half of the season will be very high. I just hope the car is fast. It certainly feels good, and there’s definitely a lot to do – some things don’t feel so good. “But for something we’ve never done before, with so much new information, I think we’re off to a remarkable start.” concluded the Brit, who will hand over his seat to Daniel Ricciardo on Thursday (February 24).
Sophia Jhon is a sports journalist and author. He has worked as a news editor for Sportish and is now a sport columnist for the same publication. Alberta’s professional interests lie largely in sports news, with an emphasis on English football. He has also written articles on other sporting topics.
Carlos Sainz Sr., father of Carlos Sainz and two-time world rally champion, has commented on Ferrari’s decision to replace his son with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz was left without a seat at Ferrari last year and later joined Williams. In 2025, the Spaniard outperformed Hamilton and achieved two podiums, while the Briton had none.
Carlos Sainz Sr. emphasized that neither he nor his son criticized Hamilton:
“It’s not our problem, it’s not Carlos’ problem. Ferrari was close to winning the constructors’ championship in 2024, but this year the team has faced difficulties. My advice, and Carlos agrees, is to focus on your work. The world is already too complex to worry about everyone. Let people draw their own conclusions,” he said.
At the same time, Sainz Sr. believes that his son can become a world champion:
“I have a lot of confidence in him and I want to believe that it is possible. I am his father and I have seen how talented he is. If he is in the right place at the right time, he can really achieve this. Everything has to match perfectly. He works and fights for it,” he added.
The rally champion also noted that success depends on the car and the team:
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystal ball to know how teams are preparing for radical changes in F1. It all depends on the engine and the chassis. It would be good for Williams to produce a competitive car and fight for the podium. Now they can be at the bottom, middle or top of the table and under the new rules the stronger teams have more resources.”
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
Formula 1 pilots’ salaries have long been record-breaking, and the championship’s leading stars regularly appear on the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes.
The current F1 squad is one of the richest in the history of the series, which is directly linked to the sharp increase in the championship’s global popularity in recent years.
But large contracts account for only a fraction of total revenue. Advertising deals, bonuses, business ventures and investments have allowed individual pilots to amass fortunes that far exceed the earnings of most of their peers. According to Racing News 365, it was these Formula 1 drivers who managed to build the largest financial empires in the history of the championship, leaving others far behind.
The richest F1 drivers in history
1) Michael Schumacher – $790 million
2) Lewis Hamilton – $304 million
3) Fernando Alonso – $264 million
4) Kimi Raikkonen – $254 million
5) Niki Lauda – $203 million
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
Mercedes driver George Russell says he is ready to prove his ability to challenge for the Formula 1 championship and is not afraid to confront Max Verstappen directly.
The Briton had been driving for Mercedes for four seasons but joined the Brackley team just as it lost its leading position. During this time, Russell achieved five Grand Prix victories but had to watch Verstappen and Lando Norris win the titles.
On the eve of major regulatory changes in 2026, many experts see Mercedes as one of the favorites of the new technical cycle. Russell hopes this will be his chance to consistently compete at the top.
“I’m confident I can compete with the best. Max is the gold standard right now,” said Russell.
I would like to fight him head on. “This is the only pilot next to whom you can really test your level.”
After Lewis Hamilton moved to Ferrari, Russell established himself as the leader of Mercedes. The 27-year-old compares his situation to the career of Michael Schumacher, who won his first championship after working for Ferrari for five years.
“You either fight for the championship or you don’t. Nobody dreams of fighting for second place. I’m ready to take my chances and I understand that patience is required,” concluded Russell.
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
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