For Ferrari, it’s the identical story once more for now. Spanish GP, spherical 9 of the 2025 Components 1 season: nothing new was seen. In accordance with the Prancing Horse, many issues might have modified, particularly regarding McLaren’s benefit. Contemplating the present efficiency of the MCL39, it appears the Woking crew 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 rapidly, it should even be stated that solely immediately’s qualifying session will provide a definitive indication of Ferrari’s final result. We all know very properly the problems confronted by the Maranello automobiles in attaining 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 vital” in closing the hole to the highest, can nonetheless broaden the automobile’s working window—one thing it undoubtedly wants. When it comes to dealing with, each SF-25 automobiles 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 normal problem 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 likely to overheat. Essentially the most confused tyre is the entrance left. In flip 5, which options adverse banking, the Ferrari struggles so much to seek out the apex.
Course modifications penalise Ferrari
In fact, the identical goes for different automobiles, the place they attempt to “drive round” the nook with out aiming for the interior kerb. Nevertheless, different groups have proven ample 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 problem, stemming from a “weak” entrance finish, is in route modifications. The SF-25 not solely lacks agility but in addition tends to grow to be unbalanced when it wants to change the racing line rapidly. That is undoubtedly a weak level, as the driving force is compelled to elevate off, leading to vital time loss by way of the nook.
Spanish GP, FP2: Charles’ mistake prices in qualifying tempo
Lewis Hamilton said that the automobile is tough to drive. This implies the crew is as soon as once more making an attempt a really aggressive setup this season. We’ll solely have affirmation of this later immediately. The truth that Ferrari performs properly 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 shortage of front-end load in comparison with McLaren and Pink 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 practically three and a half tenths to the front-runners.
That’s why the “actual” hole is likely to 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 sudden oversteer second. A “snap” that wasn’t brought on by any adverse attribute of the automobile. On this case, it was clearly a driver error, partly because of a robust gust of wind.
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