The SF-25 continues to be a single-seater that’s tough to place in the precise working window, with a significant weak spot in qualifying, however in latest weekends the outcomes have improved sufficient to deliver Ferrari again to second place within the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren stays distant when it comes to each factors and efficiency, however the 2025 season can nonetheless ship satisfaction, particularly if the upcoming updates deliver important progress within the automobile’s most problematic areas. The outlook for the Maranello crew was outlined by crew principal Fred Vasseur after the latest Spanish GP, which concluded the European triple header forward of the journey to Canada.
Fred Vasseur: “SF-25, a delicate automobile”
The 2 consecutive podiums achieved by Charles Leclerc in Monte Carlo and Barcelona have partially improved the crew’s season report and boosted morale at Ferrari, however the outcomes from the primary 9 races of the yr have nonetheless fallen wanting expectations. Fred Vasseur, interviewed by La Stampa, believes the important thing difficulty is the SF-25’s poor efficiency in qualifying: “By way of race tempo, we’re roughly there. The attribute of this automobile is that it struggles rather more in qualifying than within the race. Like final yr, however extra pronounced. In Jeddah we have been three tenths off pole, then within the race we have been the quickest. In Imola, on Saturday we have been nowhere (each vehicles eradicated in Q2, ed.), and the subsequent day we made a comeback. With 4 groups preventing on the prime, if you wish to win, you may’t afford to start out on the third or fourth row.”
Making an attempt to label the SF-25, Fred Vasseur described it as “delicate”, including: “I don’t know if it’s tough, however we battle to get it into the precise window to get the tyres to work at their greatest. Qualifying in Imola and Miami have been emblematic, the place we have been sooner on used tyres — one thing I’ve by no means seen in my life.”
Requested in regards to the updates associated to the brand new flooring and rear suspension anticipated between Canada and Britain, Fred Vasseur remained tight-lipped, solely confirming that new elements are coming and that Ferrari doesn’t but intend to desert the present automobile to concentrate on subsequent yr: “I can say we’ve some developments on the best way. It’s not but time to assume solely about 2026, although we’re all getting near that time. I can’t make guarantees to the followers besides that we’ll give 200%, pushing like loopy — even when the others aren’t sleeping both. However the strategy is sweet.”
Talking of 2026, Fred Vasseur added: “It’s a recent begin from zero, thrilling for everybody. It will likely be a totally new problem. I can’t recall something prefer it in F1. And it’s inconceivable to have references in comparison with the others.”
Drivers: Hamilton’s struggles, Leclerc’s progress
Ferrari, a lot is being stated about Lewis Hamilton’s efficiency, clearly nonetheless not comfy with the SF-25: “It’s a matter of particulars,” stated Fred Vasseur. “We’re speaking about hundredths, which on this extremely aggressive F1 could make the distinction between a primary and a 3rd row, between weekend and a much less good one. However they’re nonetheless particulars — understanding the automobile, setup, communication. That’s regular when altering groups.”
In Barcelona, the seven-time world champion appeared very downcast on the finish of the Grand Prix. Talking about find out how to elevate Hamilton’s spirits, Fred Vasseur stated: “It’s about persevering with to work and push collectively. Actually, the collaboration is sweet. You study extra from powerful moments, and also you come again stronger. In Spain, each vehicles had an issue within the last stint, and Lewis’s efficiency suffered from it.”
In Hamilton’s adaptation course of at Ferrari, the connection together with his race engineer Riccardo Adami performs an vital function. The chemistry between the 2 nonetheless appears to be growing, not helped by some adverse crew radio messages and a mishap in Monaco qualifying that resulted in a penalty for the Briton: “It was as a result of a GPS difficulty — we misplaced Max Verstappen’s sign,” the previous Alfa Romeo crew boss emphasised. The French supervisor added on communication with the pit wall: “The primary query to ask is the place we are able to enhance and what Lewis expects when it comes to info. Workforce radio doesn’t scare me — some reactions are comprehensible while you’re doing 300 km/h between the partitions. What issues is that earlier than and after, the dialogue is constructive. I can guarantee you there’s no battle happening.”
Hamilton’s efficiency appears particularly poor compared with a Leclerc who seems to have reached the very best degree of his profession: “I’d say so, he’s doing job,” Fred Vasseur confirmed. “In comparison with the previous, he’s taken an enormous step ahead when it comes to readability about what he desires. He’s extra direct in telling the engineers what he wants.”
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