The SF-25 continues to be a single-seater that’s troublesome to place in the suitable working window, with a serious weak point in qualifying, however in latest weekends the outcomes have improved sufficient to convey Ferrari again to second place within the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren stays distant by way of each factors and efficiency, however the 2025 season can nonetheless ship satisfaction, particularly if the upcoming updates convey important progress within the automotive’s most problematic areas. The outlook for the Maranello group was outlined by group principal Fred Vasseur after the latest Spanish GP, which concluded the European triple header forward of the journey to Canada.
Fred Vasseur: “SF-25, a delicate automotive”
The 2 consecutive podiums achieved by Charles Leclerc in Monte Carlo and Barcelona have partially improved the group’s season report and boosted morale at Ferrari, however the outcomes from the primary 9 races of the 12 months have nonetheless fallen in need of expectations. Fred Vasseur, interviewed by La Stampa, believes the important thing problem is the SF-25’s poor efficiency in qualifying: “By way of race tempo, we’re kind of there. The attribute of this automotive is that it struggles rather more in qualifying than within the race. Like final 12 months, however extra pronounced. In Jeddah we had been three tenths off pole, then within the race we had been the quickest. In Imola, on Saturday we had been nowhere (each vehicles eradicated in Q2, ed.), and the following day we made a comeback. With 4 groups combating on the high, if you wish to win, you possibly can’t afford to start out on the third or fourth row.”
Making an attempt to label the SF-25, Fred Vasseur described it as “delicate”, including: “I don’t know if it’s troublesome, however we battle to get it into the suitable window to get the tyres to work at their greatest. Qualifying in Imola and Miami had been emblematic, the place we had been sooner on used tyres — one thing I’ve by no means seen in my life.”
Requested in regards to the updates associated to the brand new ground and rear suspension anticipated between Canada and Britain, Fred Vasseur remained tight-lipped, solely confirming that new elements are coming and that Ferrari doesn’t but intend to desert the present automotive to deal with subsequent 12 months: “I can say we have now some developments on the way in which. It’s not but time to suppose solely about 2026, regardless that we’re all getting near that time. I can’t make guarantees to the followers besides that we’ll give 200%, pushing like loopy — even when the others aren’t sleeping both. However the strategy is sweet.”
Talking of 2026, Fred Vasseur added: “It’s a contemporary begin from zero, thrilling for everybody. It is going to be a very new problem. I can’t recall something prefer it in F1. And it’s inconceivable to have references in comparison with the others.”
Drivers: Hamilton’s struggles, Leclerc’s development
Taking a look at Ferrari, a lot is being stated about Lewis Hamilton’s efficiency, clearly nonetheless not comfy with the SF-25: “It’s a matter of particulars,” stated Fred Vasseur. “We’re speaking about hundredths, which on this extremely aggressive F1 could make the distinction between a primary and a 3rd row, between a great weekend and a much less good one. However they’re nonetheless particulars — understanding the automotive, setup, communication. That’s regular when altering groups.”
In Barcelona, the seven-time world champion appeared very downcast on the finish of the Grand Prix. Talking about the right way to raise Hamilton’s spirits, Fred Vasseur stated: “It’s about persevering with to work and push collectively. Truthfully, the collaboration is sweet. You study extra from powerful moments, and also you come again stronger. In Spain, each vehicles had an issue within the remaining stint, and Lewis’s efficiency suffered from it.”
In Hamilton’s adaptation course of at Ferrari, the connection together with his race engineer Riccardo Adami performs an vital position. The chemistry between the 2 nonetheless appears to be growing, not helped by some destructive group radio messages and a mishap in Monaco qualifying that resulted in a penalty for the Briton: “It was attributable to a GPS problem — we misplaced Max Verstappen’s sign,” the previous Alfa Romeo group boss emphasised. The French supervisor added on communication with the pit wall: “The primary query to ask is the place we are able to enhance and what Lewis expects by way of info. Workforce radio doesn’t scare me — some reactions are comprehensible once you’re doing 300 km/h between the partitions. What issues is that earlier than and after, the dialogue is constructive. I can guarantee you there’s no battle occurring.”
Hamilton’s efficiency appears particularly poor compared with a Leclerc who seems to have reached one of the best stage of his profession: “I’d say so, he’s doing a great job,” Fred Vasseur confirmed. “In comparison with the previous, he’s taken an enormous step ahead by way of readability about what he desires. He’s extra direct in telling the engineers what he wants.”
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