Scuderia Ferrari had excessive hopes of creating a big breakthrough on the Barcelona Grand Prix on the Circuit de Catalunya. Though they didn’t introduce main upgrades, the group anticipated their rivals to wrestle underneath new rules. The FIA had applied a lot stricter assessments on entrance wings to remove unlawful flexibility, and Ferrari anticipated this could mark a turning level of their 2025 season. They predicted groups like McLaren and Mercedes would face setbacks. Nonetheless, the outcomes proved in any other case, leaving Ferrari dissatisfied.
McLaren dominated qualifying with a one-two end, and Oscar Piastri was over three-tenths of a second sooner than the subsequent closest competitor outdoors the group, Max Verstappen. Ferrari managed solely fourth-fastest peak efficiency, with Lewis Hamilton main in fifth place behind the McLarens, Verstappen’s Purple Bull, and George Russell’s Mercedes.
Regardless of this, Ferrari secured 23 factors within the race as Charles Leclerc achieved a second consecutive podium, boosting the group to second place within the Constructors’ Championship. Charles Leclerc admitted {that a} late security automotive performed an element in his podium end, whereas Lewis Hamilton struggled all through the race, ending seventh on full gasoline with no likelihood to problem the frontrunners.
One notable concern for Ferrari was a late entrance wing change mandated by the FIA in Spain. Like all groups, Ferrari needed to regulate their entrance wing design to fulfill the brand new rules. In keeping with the Italian media, the FIA ordered Ferrari to change their entrance wing between the third follow session and qualifying, which was an unusually late directive. Ferrari made the mandatory modifications with out a lot problem.
Ferrari’s group principal Fred Vasseur revealed that the Briton encountered issues together with his automotive in the course of the closing stint of the race, which contributed to an embarrassing second the place he was overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg in a buyer Sauber. Lewis Hamilton accepted accountability for his underwhelming efficiency.
It stays unclear if the FIA’s late instruction concerning the entrance wing had any destructive influence on Hamilton or the Ferrari group. Nonetheless, the FIA could must make clear why such a late intervention occurred deep into the race weekend.
Lewis Hamilton’s radio messages in the course of the race highlighted ongoing entrance wing difficulties. Whereas Lewis Hamilton outqualified Leclerc for the primary time for the reason that Chinese language Grand Prix, Leclerc’s tempo in the course of the race was in a special league. Ferrari swapped the 2 drivers early on, with Charles Leclerc, automotive quantity 16, considerably sooner.
Lewis Hamilton struggled with front-end grip all through the race. On lap 57, he reported by way of radio that the entrance of his automotive abruptly felt very gentle. 5 laps later, he complained of primarily having “no entrance wing.” Ferrari is now investigating whether or not the entrance wing modifications made earlier than and through the Spanish GP weekend contributed to Hamilton’s dealing with points.
Carlos Sainz, who was changed at Ferrari by the Briton, expressed sympathy for Lewis Hamilton’s struggles, understanding the challenges that include adjusting to new automobiles and groups. Whereas Carlos Sainz has discovered his rhythm at Williams, the seven-time Formulation 1 world champion’s difficulties recommend that the seven-time world champion nonetheless faces an uphill battle to seek out kind this season.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
