Ferrari enters the third session of the Method 1 assessments with nice dedication. We’re speaking concerning the final on-track check earlier than the 2025 F1 season begins. This issue reveals how necessary it’s to profit from the out there time. The ultimate assessments on setup had been broadcast, because of suggestions from the Maranello workforce’s drivers. This morning, it’s Charles Leclerc’s flip, who will make manner for the seven-time F1 World Champion within the afternoon. This transfer goals to diversify the assessments primarily based on environmental situations, giving Lewis Hamilton the chance to carry out a excessive gasoline check.
On the ultimate day of testing on the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain Worldwide Circuit in Sakhir, Ferrari opted for a change within the on-track sequence. This time, Charles Leclerc will kick off the session, thus driving in several environmental situations in comparison with the primary two days, resuming the work left incomplete yesterday. Within the afternoon, it will likely be Lewis Hamilton’s flip, who can have the possibility to carry out a full race tempo simulation. Moreover, it seems that an experimental check is deliberate for the Briton to discover the boundaries of the Maranello automobile.
The purpose is to duplicate excessive situations on a flying lap, permitting him to grow to be extra acquainted with the automobile’s controls underneath most stress. From a technical standpoint, an fascinating replace is famous: in comparison with the day prior to this, SF-25 quantity 16 hit the monitor with a narrower engine cowl. This selection is linked to the decrease morning temperatures, representing a helpful experiment to investigate the thermal administration of the Italian energy unit and its parts. Within the first run, Charles Leclerc is driving with a set of Pirelli C3 tires, performing a number of push laps.
Nevertheless, monitor situations will not be but optimum, as a consequence of sand blown onto the floor, which makes the Ferrari automobile barely unstable. One other fascinating element is the appliance of move viz on the second flap of the rear wing, used to guage the aerodynamic move conduct with the DRS activated. The second run didn’t final lengthy both, because the workforce returned to the pits to concentrate on brake system setup. A small challenge with the discs and pads emerged, which immediately pertains to Charles Leclerc’s driving model.
The SF-25 nonetheless wants optimization on the braking section, as noticed the day prior to this. In reality, Charles Leclerc’s efficiency on this space has not been completely aggressive but, although the Ferrari driver is often identified for his braking talent. The totally different conduct of the brand new pull-rod suspension, which offers totally different sensations in comparison with the previous, might be one of many keys to this adjustment section. Because of this, the Ferrari engineers and technicians labored on the entrance finish, aiming to refine the setup to supply a more practical response to the motive force.
On this context, the entrance suspension has been additional adjusted. The goal of this modification is to enhance the automobile’s stability throughout nook entry and braking. A noteworthy element is the usage of move viz on the wishbones of the tie rod, a measure that can assist engineers collect visible knowledge on the distribution of aerodynamic flows on this strategic space of the automobile. The purpose is to exactly perceive the connection between aerodynamics and mechanics, a subject that, as a “classic Mattia Binotto” would say, is essential to maximise the automobile’s efficiency.
Charles Leclerc is lastly again on monitor with the SF-25. For now, we don’t discover any main variations, even contemplating that the Monegasque as soon as once more went extensive at flip 4, and in flip 13, the trajectory was not as “tidy” because the one the Briton confirmed us yesterday. Charles Leclerc is looking for the precise steadiness in a session that turned out to be extra sophisticated than anticipated. Observing the Monegasque driver alongside Lando Norris’ McLaren MCL39, we discover that the British automobile appears to be struggling extra issues than the SF-25.
The MCL39 is kind of unstable on entry, and even on exit, it struggles to optimize dealing with when accelerating. There are numerous errors the place the Briton goes extensive and lengthy in numerous sectors of the monitor. Understeer turns into over-rotation. It appears the wind is inflicting appreciable bother for the aerodynamics generally. No less than we will verify that Ferrari appears to endure much less on this aggressive context. Charles Leclerc’s final lap didn’t go nicely. First, it should be mentioned that everybody is struggling rather a lot. Simply have a look at Max Verstappen‘s Crimson Bull.
The understeer he’s experiencing is large, making the Dutchman’s dealing with an actual nightmare. McLaren just isn’t far behind, though in Lando Norris‘ case, the dearth of rotation is much less. Returning to Charles Leclerc, in his lap, there are errors at flip 4 as a consequence of understeer. At flip 10, he couldn’t speed up cleanly, delaying on the throttle due to a correction on exit, whereas in flip 13, he went too inside, shedding the apex. He additionally struggled at flip 14. The information just isn’t optimistic, however as talked about, it’s a downside shared with different prime vehicles.
Within the following laps, after some changes to the automobile, the dearth of rotation disappeared, giving solution to an oversteering conduct. Nevertheless, the automobile was nonetheless not as composed and straightforward to drive. Charles Leclerc tried to enhance the dealing with, succeeding solely partially. The identical applies to the mini race tempo simulations after including extra gasoline to the automobile. Even on this context, the automobile proved imperfect, with occasions rising too rapidly. At that second, Kimi Antonelli appeared to be on the identical program.
The Mercedes W16 confirmed higher consistency, struggling much less from the environmental situations. It should be mentioned that this hole is basically because of the distinction in gasoline load, because the SF-25 had considerably extra gasoline. Within the subsequent simulation, nonetheless with Pirelli C3 tires, Ferrari confirmed enhancements in dealing with. Because of this, the development of occasions was higher. On the similar time, Max Verstappen was additionally performing the excessive gasoline check. The occasions had been extra constant than Ferrari’s and about 4 tenths decrease than Charles Leclerc’s, however once more, the RB21’s gasoline load was decrease.
After a brief break, the place the mechanics simulate a wing change with the identical specification, the Monegasque returns to the monitor and continues his testing. The tempo is even higher, and total, the steadiness of the Ferrari SF-25 single-seater is far more impartial. The morning session is coming to an finish. After a one-hour break, Ferrari will return to the monitor with Lewis Hamilton for the ultimate run of the brand new automobile earlier than the beginning of the 2025 F1 World Championship with the Australian Grand Prix on the Albert Park circuit.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
