Ferrari uncover main qualifying flaw leaving Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 F1 title hopes underneath menace
The 2025 Formulation 1 season was supposed to supply Lewis Hamilton the clear slate he sought following a difficult remaining marketing campaign with Mercedes. After a uncommon setback in his illustrious profession, the place he was outscored by teammate George Russell by 22 factors, Hamilton was banking on a revival with Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion, now 40, had causes for optimism as Ferrari closed out 2024 on a powerful word. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had almost overhauled McLaren for second within the Constructors’ standings, and each mid-season growth introduced tangible efficiency features for the Scuderia.
Nonetheless, the beginning of the 2025 Formulation 1 season has not lived as much as expectations, regardless of Lewis Hamilton’s initially upbeat evaluation throughout winter testing. Whereas Lewis Hamilton spoke positively about Ferrari’s potential, the Monegasque had been extra cautious, and his skepticism appears to have been justified despite the fact that his efficiency improved considerably after the introduction of Ferrari’s first improve package deal in Bahrain.
Ferrari’s qualifying struggles traced to floor clearance flaw affecting Lewis Hamilton
An in-depth report from Italian each day newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has make clear the technical concern at present hampering Ferrari — a difficulty group principal Fred Vasseur should urgently resolve if the group is to salvage its season. Over the winter, Ferrari focused qualifying efficiency, aiming to construct on the meager 4 pole positions achieved throughout 24 races in 2024. But thus far, 2025 has delivered few highlights in qualifying trim.
Except for Hamilton’s beautiful Dash Race pole in China, Ferrari drivers have struggled to function on the sharp finish of the grid. The only front-row begin got here courtesy of the Monegasque in Bahrain, the place he lined up beside Oscar Piastri however finally didn’t convert the place right into a podium.
In keeping with the Italian media, the underlying concern lies within the SF-25’s excessive sensitivity to floor clearance when working with an empty gasoline load. The automotive reportedly enters a “disaster” state when it transitions into slower corners that demand greater ranges of mechanical grip in comparison with aerodynamic downforce. Whereas Ferrari’s newly launched ground has considerably mitigated the issue, it has not eradicated it.
The group now faces a vital choice: how a lot effort ought to they commit to rectifying a 2025-specific concern, figuring out that the upcoming 2026 Formulation 1 rules will render a lot of this 12 months’s growth work out of date?
Lewis Hamilton’s season compromised by Ferrari’s setup miscalculation
For Lewis Hamilton, the bottom clearance dilemma is a well-known — and irritating — theme. Through the 2023 season, he was disqualified from the USA Grand Prix for extreme plank put on, and Mercedes’ overcorrection in Brazil, the place they raised his experience peak an excessive amount of, left him uncompetitive.
Quick-forward to 2025, and historical past appears to be repeating itself. Though Lewis Hamilton claimed an excellent Dash Race victory in Shanghai, he was unable to copy that success within the Grand Prix itself, whereas Charles Leclerc additionally suffered, being disqualified on account of his automotive being underweight.
Considerably, Ferrari had not confronted such floor clearance considerations in 2024, a element that seemingly gave the Briton confidence when committing to his transfer. Sadly, he now finds himself hamstrung by a automotive that struggles when it needs to be at its finest — working low to the bottom, the place the seven-time Formulation 1 world champion historically excels.
Since Shanghai, Lewis Hamilton’s competitiveness has been fleeting. The hole between him and Charles Leclerc in qualifying classes has been alarming, emphasizing the urgency for Ferrari to right their design flaws. In the event that they fail to provide the Briton a platform to problem, the veteran dangers falling dangerously adrift within the Drivers’ Championship standings throughout what was presupposed to be his nice comeback season.
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