With no racing this weekend, it was a superb alternative to evaluate the present dealing with issues of the Ferrari SF-25 single-seater. We accomplish that by inspecting the conduct of the Italian vehicles in final weekend’s Formulation 1 Chinese language Grand Prix, which was the second spherical of the 2025 F1 championship. On this context, it is very important concentrate on the traits of the Ferrari. The query we goal to reply is the next: what do Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc truly expertise when driving the SF-25 at this second?
The Maranello single-seater suffers from sure technical points. Firstly, the actual drawback of the Ferrari just isn’t the rear suspension itself however fairly the interplay between the pull-rod suspension system on the rear and the ground. Moreover, the ground reveals a difficulty associated to peak downforce. All of this naturally interprets to on-track efficiency, and that is what we now need to analyze via the examination of some on-board footage from the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai Worldwide Circuit.
Let’s start by observing the primary chicane of the Chinese language F1 circuit, after the flip 1-3 corkscrew advanced, which may be very technical and complicated. Quite a lot of precision is required in throttle enter, in addition to in managing brake strain. The banking current additionally doesn’t assist in managing the automobile optimally, and the nook may be very lengthy. The forces shift from longitudinal to lateral, the place the transition is essential to keep away from unsettling the automobile, because the tires on the loaded aspect exceed the obtainable grip restrict.
At this level, through the transition part, the McLaren MCL39 exhibits an excellent diploma of lateral grip. When the drivers method the primary apex, each vehicles expertise some minor difficulties. Regardless of this, the distinction in front-end grip turns into evident. Within the qualifying lap, Oscar Piastri manages to remain tighter to the curb to assault it.
This pattern has been noticed ceaselessly, even on the Albert Park circuit in Australia. Conversely, Lewis Hamilton is pressured to make use of extra steering angle to succeed in the apex. This causes the Briton to be positioned much less favorably for the subsequent nook, in the other way. Consequently, the Australian McLaren driver saves a number of centimeters of journey, discovering a extra inner apex with a racing line that enables him to chop the nook extra successfully.
The following focal point is flip 6, the place speeds stay comparatively low. As soon as once more, Lewis Hamilton struggles to show the automobile in. That is evident from the Briton’s steering angle on the mid-corner: there’s nonetheless understeer at low speeds. On this case, the causes of this persistent problem are primarily attributed to the suspension mechanics.
Ferrari continues to indicate a mechanical stability that’s too rearward, unable to maneuver it ahead when establishing the automobile. The result’s clear on this case: on nook exit, the Ferrari driver has to delay by a number of moments earlier than making use of the throttle, dropping treasured time. Even with higher traction and a suspension that provides extra grip to place the ability down, the delayed entry ruins the potential internet acquire.
Within the quick corners that observe, the drivers take completely different traces. Lewis Hamilton stays tighter in comparison with Oscar Piastri’s McLaren MCL39, however the speeds that the 2 vehicles can carry via the center of the nook are considerably completely different. Furthermore, the Australian is ready to make a much bigger distinction in path adjustments, benefiting from a secure rear finish that follows the entrance with precision.
Lastly, let’s concentrate on two 90-degree corners: turns 9 and 10. Within the first, the seven-time Formulation 1 world champion nonetheless struggles on turn-in, which then impacts his exit. He hits the apex pretty properly, however the entrance of the SF-25 slides. The British driver is pressured to tighten an excessive amount of and, consequently, when he presses the throttle, the automobile reveals an annoying extra of rotation.
Usually, even within the first Grand Prix in Australia in addition to throughout pre-season testing session on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, it might need appeared that the Italian automobile’s solely problem was oversteer. Nevertheless, the actual drawback originates earlier, within the nook entry part, inside sure velocity ranges. The drivers themselves have reported this, because the understeer on entry is making all the pieces considerably tougher.
Charles Leclerc particularly talked about this, stating that over the Shanghai weekend, the 2 Ferrari drivers misplaced confidence within the automobile and have been solely capable of barely mitigate sure behaviors. At flip 10, cornering speeds improve, and the problems don’t appear considerably completely different. The wind should even be thought of, as wing vehicles are extremely delicate to this parameter.
Lewis Hamilton loses management on entry, as will be seen based mostly on the onboard footage. A slight oversteer, linked to the same old points we have now beforehand mentioned. This refers back to the aerodynamics of the ground and its interplay with the mechanical setup. In these corners, the place each kinds of grip are essential, these issues have been significantly evident, limiting the dealing with of the SF-25 single-seater.
Total, the result’s a lack of a number of fractions of a second that add up over the course of a lap. Ferrari is fighting an absence of rotation. A part of the issue additionally stems from the aerodynamic map, which doesn’t assist the Maranello drivers and engineers to find the right setup. This can be a important side that Ferrari is engaged on via updates, which we are going to see on the automobile subsequent month, most probably beginning with the Bahrain Grand Prix.
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Mar 31, 2025
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