Red Bull star Max Verstappen has sounded the alarm over Ferrari’s latest upgrades just days before the Bahrain Grand Prix, suggesting the Italian team is dangerously close to breaching Formula 1 regulations with its new SF-25 floor enhancement.
This comes after Lewis Hamilton, now racing for Ferrari, revealed that the team is set to introduce a new floor upgrade this weekend in a bid to reverse a lackluster start to the 2025 season. The seven-time world champion expressed optimism, saying, “We’ve got an upgrade this weekend so I’m excited that hopefully we should have a bit more downforce,” as Ferrari continues its hunt to close the gap to McLaren and Red Bull.
However, Verstappen is not convinced the changes are entirely within the legal framework.
“When you look at what they’ve done with that floor, it really rides the fine line between innovation and regulation. There’s always a risk of crossing into illegal territory,” Verstappen told Dutch media on Thursday. “You can’t just introduce something radical without raising a few eyebrows. The FIA will definitely be watching.”
Ferrari has struggled to meet expectations this season, despite a strong finish in 2024. Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have failed to deliver podiums in the early rounds, with Hamilton’s best result being seventh in Japan and Leclerc finishing just off the podium in fourth.
Charles Leclerc, hopeful the scorching Bahrain temperatures might give the team a boost, admitted Ferrari has taken “a step back” since last year. Meanwhile, Hamilton remains cautious about the upgrade’s impact, stating that while the floor might improve downforce, it won’t immediately close the gap to McLaren or Red Bull.
Despite Verstappen’s comments, no official protest or FIA investigation has been launched — yet. But as F1 returns to Bahrain, the upgraded SF-25 will be under intense scrutiny not just from rivals, but from regulators as well.
With Ferrari desperate to reclaim ground in the constructors’ battle and Verstappen unwilling to give an inch, tensions are rising ahead of what promises to be a fiercely competitive weekend under the lights in Sakhir.
