For Ferrari, it’s the identical story once more for now. Spanish GP, spherical 9 of the 2025 Method 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 shortly, it should even be stated that solely right this moment’s qualifying session will provide a definitive indication of Ferrari’s consequence. We all know very effectively the problems confronted by the Maranello vehicles in reaching 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 important” in closing the hole to the highest, can however increase the automobile’s working window—one thing it positively 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, 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 steadiness ahead in Spain to “ease” the load on the rear tyres, which might in any other case are inclined to overheat. Probably the most pressured tyre is the entrance left. In flip 5, which options damaging banking, the Ferrari struggles rather a lot to search out the apex.
Route adjustments penalise Ferrari
In fact, the identical goes for different vehicles, the place they attempt to “drive round” the nook with out aiming for the inside kerb. Nevertheless, different groups have proven enough 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 path adjustments. The SF-25 not solely lacks agility but additionally tends to develop into unbalanced when it wants to change the racing line shortly. That is positively a weak level, as the motive force is compelled to elevate off, leading to important time loss by the nook.
Spanish GP, FP2: Charles’ mistake prices in qualifying tempo
Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that the automobile is tough to drive. This means 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 right this moment. The truth that Ferrari performs effectively 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 Purple 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 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 powerful and utterly sudden oversteer second. A “snap” that wasn’t attributable to any damaging attribute of the automobile. On this case, it was clearly a driver error, partly resulting from a powerful gust of wind.
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