For Ferrari, it’s the identical story once more for now. Spanish GP, spherical 9 of the 2025 Formulation 1 season: nothing new was seen. In response to the Prancing Horse, many issues may have modified, particularly regarding McLaren’s benefit. Contemplating the present efficiency of the MCL39, it appears the Woking staff hasn’t been affected within the slightest by the FIA’s TD018 technical directive aimed toward limiting aerodynamic flexibility of the wings.
Ferrari can’t handle understeer
With out drawing conclusions too shortly, it should even be stated that solely right this moment’s qualifying session will supply a definitive indication of Ferrari’s consequence. We all know very nicely the problems confronted by the Maranello automobiles in reaching correct thermal administration of the assorted tyre compounds, particularly in qualifying laps. These difficulties appear to be re-emerging in Barcelona, regardless of the brand new entrance wing fitted to the SF-25.
This replace, which the drivers confirmed as not “too vital” in closing the hole to the highest, can however increase the automotive’s working window—one thing it positively wants. By way of dealing with, each SF-25 automobiles as soon as once more confirmed understeer. This ends in problem for the drivers to hit the apex, significantly at medium-speed corners.
Nevertheless, this lack of rotation is a basic concern all through the lap. The entrance finish struggles, even contemplating the makes an attempt to shift the general stability ahead in Spain to “ease” the load on the rear tyres, which might in any other case are likely to overheat. Probably the most burdened tyre is the entrance left. In flip 5, which options adverse banking, the Ferrari struggles lots to seek out the apex.
Path adjustments penalise Ferrari
After all, the identical goes for different automobiles, the place they attempt to “drive round” the nook with out aiming for the internal kerb. Nevertheless, different groups have proven ample rotation to have the ability to carve a a lot tighter line. This reduces the probability of struggling a snap on nook exit when the driving force will get again on the throttle.
The opposite main dealing with concern, stemming from a “weak” entrance finish, is in path adjustments. The SF-25 not solely lacks agility but additionally tends to turn into unbalanced when it wants to modify the racing line shortly. That is positively a weak level, as the driving force is pressured to elevate off, leading to vital time loss by means of the nook.
Spanish GP, FP2: Charles’ mistake prices in qualifying tempo
Lewis Hamilton said that the automotive is tough to drive. This means the staff is as soon as once more making an attempt a really aggressive setup this season. We’ll solely have affirmation of this later right this moment. The truth that Ferrari performs nicely within the third sector confirms that the rear isn’t working badly in any respect, whereas, as talked about, the entrance is clearly struggling.
This refers particularly to the dearth of front-end load in comparison with McLaren and Pink Bull. Ferrari loses out on nook entry, however the rear places energy down successfully. The hole is telling when trying on the knowledge, although telemetry exhibits a very giant loss on the chicane in turns 7–8. On this part, the SF-25 loses practically three and a half tenths to the front-runners.
That’s why the “actual” hole may be round three tenths, not the 5 tenths proven in FP2. We took an in depth take a look at the telemetry knowledge associated to the second Charles Leclerc misplaced these three and a half tenths. On nook entry, he suffered a robust and fully surprising oversteer second. A “snap” that wasn’t brought on by any adverse attribute of the automotive. On this case, it was clearly a driver error, partly as a consequence of a robust gust of wind.