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 accordance 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 staff 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 in the present day’s qualifying session will supply 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 assorted 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 however broaden the automobile’s working window—one thing it undoubtedly wants. By way of dealing with, each SF-25 vehicles as soon as once more confirmed understeer. This ends in problem for the drivers to hit the apex, significantly at medium-speed corners.
Nonetheless, this lack of rotation is a basic 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. Probably the most confused tyre is the entrance left. In flip 5, which options unfavourable banking, the Ferrari struggles rather a lot to seek out the apex.
Path adjustments penalise Ferrari
After all, the identical goes for different vehicles, the place they attempt to “drive round” the nook with out aiming for the internal kerb. Nonetheless, different groups have proven adequate rotation to have the ability to carve a a lot tighter line. This reduces the probability of struggling a snap on nook exit when the motive force will get again on the throttle.
The opposite main dealing with problem, stemming from a “weak” entrance finish, is in course adjustments. The SF-25 not solely lacks agility but additionally tends to change into unbalanced when it wants to change the racing line rapidly. That is undoubtedly a weak level, as the motive force is compelled to raise off, leading to vital time loss by way of the nook.
Spanish GP, FP2: Charles’ mistake prices in qualifying tempo
Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that the automobile is troublesome to drive. This implies the staff is as soon as once more making an attempt 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 shortage 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 knowledge, although telemetry reveals a very giant 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 may be round three tenths, not the 5 tenths proven in FP2. We took an in depth have a look at the telemetry knowledge associated to the second Charles Leclerc misplaced these three and a half tenths. On nook entry, he suffered a powerful and utterly sudden oversteer second. A “snap” that wasn’t attributable to any unfavourable attribute of the automobile. On this case, it was clearly a driver error, partly attributable to a powerful gust of wind.
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