After the Miami Grand Prix qualifying session, Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur provided a clear-eyed evaluation of the Maranello group’s present type, particularly in qualifying, the place the SF-25 single-seater struggles to get probably the most out of the tyres. Whereas the difficulty could remind a few of final yr’s SF-24, the traits differ: then, the problem was with the mushy compound, however now the issue appears extra structural.
The Group Principal pressured that the difficulty shouldn’t be a scarcity of potential, because the French supervisor is satisfied it’s there, however moderately the problem in unlocking it. This ends in underwhelming qualifying classes, as much as the purpose the place Ferrari discovered itself even behind Williams on the Miami Worldwide Autodrome in Florida. The phrases of a visibly dejected Charles Leclerc maybe mirror most clearly the truth of an SF-25 that struggles to stability its strengths with its weaknesses.
The numbers from Miami qualifying are telling: in comparison with Max Verstappen, Ferrari misplaced round seven tenths of a second in 4 corners: two tenths in Flip 1, one other tenth and a half between Turns 7 and eight, and three and a half tenths between Flip 12, the place continual understeer emerged, and the part earlier than Flip 16.
Many of the hole, due to this fact, comes from the slow-speed sections, the place the SF-25 automotive reveals its biggest weaknesses on this begin of the 2025 Method 1 championship. In truth, each Williams and Haas had been quicker than Ferrari in these areas. McLaren, then again, proved superior because of its robust front-end response and a mechanically mushy setup that allowed aggressive use of the kerbs.
Whereas Ferrari continues to seek for its identification, its rivals are making regular progress. The difficulty is not only absolute efficiency, but in addition the truth that Ferrari’s present most important power, particularly its straight-line velocity, is clearly not sufficient to make an actual distinction. McLaren, for instance, has typically been praised for its versatility: regardless of struggling when it comes to straight-line effectivity, and having opted for lower-downforce configurations in current rounds, it stays aggressive in different areas. Whereas not matching Crimson Bull’s peak efficiency in quick sections, the MCL39 single-seater sometimes makes up for it with total stability, and that makes it a formidable competitor throughout a lot of the Method 1 calendar.
The SF-25 has made a modest step ahead in high-speed sections, persevering with the aerodynamic improvement path began with the SF-24. Nevertheless, it nonetheless suffers from understeer in sluggish corners, partly as a result of total weak mechanical grip. Charles Leclerc has emphasised this repeatedly: past stability, what is really lacking is grip.
Maybe probably the most telling determine is that Charles Leclerc managed to put up higher sector instances on used tyres than on a contemporary set, failing to use the grip peak—highlighting the SF-25’s qualifying weaknesses. These points additionally have an effect on race day: beginning too far again means getting caught in soiled air and being compelled to chase. At current, a state of affairs that has additionally been seen two weeks in the past within the Jeddah race, the SF-25’s solely actual power is its straight-line velocity, much like Mercedes, which generally runs low-drag setups. Nevertheless, Ferrari struggles to capitalize on it as successfully, typically failing to make equal beneficial properties in different efficiency areas.
McLaren stands out for its adaptability; Crimson Bull, besides in Miami, can rely on wonderful DRS efficiency and nice tempo in quick sections. A positive calendar has helped, however the RB21 clearly has greater efficiency peaks than the Ferrari, even when Bahrain uncovered a few of its personal weaknesses.
From this image, two key takeaways emerge. First, Crimson Bull apart, all of Ferrari’s most important rivals have made important progress. Second, although the SF-25 single-seater has gained about 6 kilometers per hour on the straights in comparison with 2024, it has not proven comparable enhancements in both sluggish or quick corners. In high-speed corners, Mercedes has considerably lowered bouncing and improved in low-speed sections as properly, particularly in sequences of turns, because of a extra environment friendly low-drag setup for the W16. McLaren has made a transparent step ahead in slow-speed corners, turning into a benchmark there, whereas nonetheless bettering its straight-line efficiency with the MCL39.
On this context, the SF-25’s lack of versatile downforce and its mechanical setup limitations reveal the automotive’s core points when it comes to qualifying efficiency, particularly on tracks the place a stability between quick and sluggish sections is essential. In consequence, it turns into a lot more durable to hit the best efficiency window, additional highlighting its flaws.
Setup work can mitigate some weaknesses, however on complicated circuits that isn’t sufficient, as one compromise typically results in one other problem. Within the Miami Grand Prix race, Ferrari could present extra aggressive tempo, particularly since tyre administration turns into much less essential, however beginning too far again makes it tough to construct a strong race.
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