Ferrari claims a podium with Charles Leclerc in the Spanish Grand Prix, the ninth spherical of the 2025 Method 1 championship. The Barcelona F1 race ends with out penalties for the Monegasque driver, who after the FIA investigation comes out “clear” from the shut encounter with Max Verstappen. For Lewis Hamilton, nevertheless, issues didn’t go as anticipated. The Englishman struggled with stability points whereas carrying loads of gas and was unable to ship his finest efficiency within the SF-25.
At first, most drivers opted for Tender tires, each new and used. Strategic forecasts indicated a two-stop Spanish Grand Prix to keep up a excessive tempo. Ferrari selected Pirellis marked with purple for each drivers, however Charles Leclerc had a barely more energizing set than the one Lewis Hamilton was utilizing. Within the first laps, Max Verstappen confirmed a formidable tempo.
However his set of tires was two laps older than Oscar Piastri’s, the race chief. Then the Dutchman started to undergo, whereas McLaren stood out for a more practical thermal administration. Oscar Piastri nonetheless reported some rear difficulties, comprehensible contemplating how front-loaded the MCL39 single-seater was.
We’re speaking a few stability aimed toward favoring rotation, however on the identical time it pressured the rear axle of the papaya-colored automobiles a bit an excessive amount of. In distinction, different groups targeted on defending the rear axle as a lot as potential, however this robotically compromised the front-end’s effectiveness.
Ferrari responded to a Mercedes transfer, whereas Crimson Bull tried one thing completely different by bringing Max Verstappen in for his first cease on lap 14. As soon as again on observe, the Dutchman pushed at full throttle, with out even a lap to adapt: a transparent signal of the intention to play the three-stop card. The tempo was not sufficient to threaten the McLarens however was higher than Ferrari and Mercedes.
Crimson Bull discovered itself within the perfect place to try a extra aggressive technique. The primary of the 2 Ferrari automobiles to cease was Lewis Hamilton’s, compelled to cowl the undercut try by George Russell. To keep away from shedding place to the seven-time Method 1 world champion, the Italian group selected to convey him in early, accepting to increase the subsequent stint.
In the meantime, Mercedes confronted a tough selection: prolong the stint or pit instantly. Nonetheless, the overcut proved to be ineffective and even counterproductive. Charles Leclerc was additionally known as within the following lap to forestall Lewis Hamilton from gaining floor with new tires. As typically occurs, Ferrari set a cautious begin to the stint for each drivers, an additional purpose to keep away from shedding positions throughout the pit stops.
Each mounted Medium tires, the identical compound the Maranello group deliberate to make use of once more on the finish. With the cease recreation, Mercedes managed to stress Ferrari, forcing it to pit earlier. George Russell pitted on lap 23 to placed on Mediums. The four-lap hole to Lewis Hamilton may have mattered within the second half, however entrance tire degradation confirmed up sooner than anticipated, negating a few of the benefit.
Crimson Bull’s plan was to realize via tempo. Between laps 21 and 22, each McLaren automobiles made their first stops, becoming Medium tires as predicted. Every pit cease prices about 21 seconds, and understanding he needed to make three stops, Max Verstappen wanted to get well at the least four-tenths per lap. Within the center part, till the MCL39 automobiles stopped, the Dutchman reduce the hole by about one and a half seconds per lap, sufficient to alarm the Woking pit.
In keeping with Crimson Bull’s calculations, round lap 40 McLaren actually felt the chance. After a really intense second half, Max Verstappen pitted for the final time on lap 41 switching to Softs: the concept was to attempt a remaining cost to seize at the least one podium step. On the identical second, Charles Leclerc made his second tire change. The one lifelike goal was to lock in fourth place and defend in opposition to any Mercedes comeback.
Once more, the selection fell on a second set of Mediums, thought of extra constant than the Softs. Nonetheless, the Ferrari group most popular to not threat, selecting strategic consistency over creativity. The administration of the Pirelli tires appeared strong, as already seen in Imola, particularly for Charles Leclerc, an indication of improved management over floor temperatures.
The Security Automotive ruined every little thing for Verstappen and proved an sudden alternative for the Maranello group. On lap 54, the Security Automotive got here out as a result of Kimi Antonelli’s retirement. Nonetheless, its look didn’t supply important strategic benefits for the reason that primary stops have been already carried out. Actually, for Max Verstappen—already having pitted thrice—the neutralization was a blow.
With Tender tires used for 11 laps, Crimson Bull was compelled to pit for a fourth cease as a result of the competitors was making ready to mount more energizing tires (nearly all on Softs used for 4 laps). Solely Nico Hülkenberg had a brand new set. Primarily, Crimson Bull judged Max Verstappen’s tires too worn to defend on the restart, particularly in opposition to rivals with more energizing compounds.
With out another units of Tender tires obtainable, they opted for the Arduous tires, the one various left. On the restart, nevertheless, the exhausting compound proved ineffective: the temperature had not but reached the best vary and Verstappen misplaced grip exiting the final nook. The end result was a double overtake by Charles Leclerc and George Russell, which excluded the Dutchman from the rostrum.
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