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 keeping with the Prancing Horse, many issues may have modified, particularly regarding McLaren’s benefit. Contemplating the present efficiency of the MCL39, it appears the Woking workforce 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 in the present day’s qualifying session will provide a definitive indication of Ferrari’s consequence. We all know very nicely the problems confronted by the Maranello vehicles in reaching correct thermal administration of the varied 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 important” in closing the hole to the highest, can nonetheless develop the automotive’s working window—one thing it undoubtedly wants. When it comes to dealing with, each SF-25 vehicles as soon as once more confirmed understeer. This ends in issue for the drivers to hit the apex, notably at medium-speed corners.
Nevertheless, this lack of rotation is a basic difficulty 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 inclined to overheat. Essentially the most burdened tyre is the entrance left. In flip 5, which options unfavourable banking, the Ferrari struggles lots to search out the apex.
Course adjustments penalise Ferrari
In fact, the identical goes for different vehicles, the place they attempt to “drive round” the nook with out aiming for the interior kerb. Nevertheless, different groups have proven adequate rotation to have the ability to carve a a lot tighter line. This reduces the chance of struggling a snap on nook exit when the driving force will get again on the throttle.
The opposite main dealing with difficulty, stemming from a “weak” entrance finish, is in route adjustments. The SF-25 not solely lacks agility but additionally tends to change into unbalanced when it wants to change the racing line shortly. That is undoubtedly a weak level, as the driving force is compelled to carry off, leading to important time loss by way of the nook.
Spanish GP, FP2: Charles’ mistake prices in qualifying tempo
Lewis Hamilton said that the automotive is troublesome to drive. This means the workforce is as soon as once more attempting a really aggressive setup this season. We’ll solely have affirmation of this later in the present day. 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 Crimson Bull. Ferrari loses out on nook entry, however the rear places energy down successfully. The hole is telling when trying on the information, although telemetry reveals a very massive loss on the chicane in turns 7–8. On this part, the SF-25 loses almost three and a half tenths to the front-runners.
That’s why the “actual” hole could be round three tenths, not the 5 tenths proven in FP2. Within the following picture we spotlight 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 unfavourable attribute of the automotive. On this case, it was clearly a driver error, partly on account of a robust gust of wind.
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