Lewis Hamilton has completed pre-season testing as he prepares for his Ferrari debut at the Australian Grand Prix.

After giving the SF-25 a shakedown at Fiorano earlier last month, the seven-time champion took to the track in Bahrain for three days of testing.

Hamilton’s outing was fairly uneventful, running only 162 laps across the test. While he encountered no issues with his Ferrari, the Brit only drove more laps than three other drivers: both Red Bulls and Lance Stroll.

Nevertheless, Bahrain was a positive test for Hamilton, who learned more about his 2025 car and working with his team. Hamilton is ‘really looking’ at Sebastian Vettel’s preparations with Riccardo Adami as he gears up for this season with the Italian as his race engineer.

Hamilton’s ‘demeanour’ has changed since testing with Ferrari as he looks more positive than ever ahead of the season. The 40-year-old is looking to stamp his authority with the Maranello outfit, but he will face tough competition from his teammate.

Charles Leclerc is well-established at Ferrari and will be gunning for the drivers’ championship in 2025 after the team missed out on the constructors’ title last year to McLaren. His and Hamilton’s data in Bahrain suggest the latter and adopted one of the former’s ‘dynamite’ traits.

Lewis Hamilton shared Charles Leclerc’s ‘dynamite’ throttle and brake overlap approach in Bahrain

Leclerc is known as one of the strongest drivers over one lap in qualifying. A key reason for this is how he uses throttle and brake overlap through the corners.

The approach consists of using the throttle and brake pedals – slightly – simultaneously to allow for more engine power and faster cornering speed. While it can be risky if not executed correctly, Leclerc seems to have mastered the technique.

As per The Race, Ferrari’s data from Bahrain showed the Monagasque driver using the throttle and brake overlap through the medium-speed corners. Interestingly, Hamilton was also seen using the approach through turn 10 which saw him gain time over his teammate.

This ‘similar’ trait to Leclerc, as journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm put it, could help Hamilton in 2025 if the SF-25 can handle it: “As ever, Leclerc is doing more throttle and brake overlap across the lap.

“This can be dynamite in qualifying in particular and has always been used to great effect by Leclerc, especially in Bahrain where some of the corner layouts really reward the unique way he slows the car down and rotates it while maintaining an unusually high minimum speed.

“At medium-speed corners where the front can get overly stressed, Leclerc somehow manages to get the car rotated while still applying a bit of excess throttle, enabling him to get on full power exiting the corner earlier.

“At the slow-speed turn 10 though, there’s a hint of some throttle and brake overlap from Hamilton that gains him time against Leclerc. Excess throttle was also evident in the Mercedes days, so it’s possible that Hamilton has a similar, if less exaggerated trait to Leclerc, which could help if the Ferrari can handle it.”

Is Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Ferrari good enough to fight for the title?

Ferrari will head into 2025 as one of the title favourites. But as Bahrain testing proved, McLaren emerged with the fastest car.

Some ‘paddock chatter’ suggests Mercedes have overtaken Ferrari in development after a strong pre-season from the Silver Arrows. Hamilton’s heart will sink when he hears this having just left the team after being frustrated with inconsistent machinery.

Alex Brundle noticed the Ferrari did not look ‘friendly’ to drive at certain points in Bahrain. Hamilton will have to adapt quickly if he is to go up against Leclerc this year.

Guenther Steiner thinks Charles Leclerc could be the lead driver if he copies some of Hamilton’s habits. It is therefore interesting that the latter is using the former’s throttle and brake overlap approach through the corners.

It appears Hamilton is looking for inspiration from Leclerc to find the groove with the SF-25. If the car can handle the approach, the duo could be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.