For Ferrari, it’s the identical story once more for now. Spanish GP, spherical 9 of the 2025 System 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 geared 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 at this time’s qualifying session will provide a definitive indication of Ferrari’s end result. We all know very nicely the problems confronted by the Maranello vehicles in attaining correct thermal administration of the assorted 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 vital” in closing the hole to the highest, can nonetheless develop the automotive’s working window—one thing it undoubtedly wants. When it comes to dealing with, each SF-25 vehicles as soon as once more confirmed understeer. This leads to issue for the drivers to hit the apex, notably at medium-speed corners.
Nonetheless, this lack of rotation is a common difficulty all through the lap. The entrance finish struggles, even contemplating the makes an attempt to shift the general stability ahead in Spain to “ease” the load on the rear tyres, which might in any other case are likely to overheat. Probably the most burdened tyre is the entrance left. In flip 5, which options unfavorable banking, the Ferrari struggles so much to search out the apex.
Path modifications penalise Ferrari
After all, the identical goes for different vehicles, the place they attempt to “drive round” the nook with out aiming for the internal kerb. Nonetheless, 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 difficulty, stemming from a “weak” entrance finish, is in path modifications. The SF-25 not solely lacks agility but additionally tends to turn into unbalanced when it wants to modify the racing line shortly. That is undoubtedly a weak level, as the motive force is compelled to raise off, leading to vital time loss by the nook.
Spanish GP, FP2: Charles’ mistake prices in qualifying tempo
Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that the automotive 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 at this time. The truth that Ferrari performs nicely 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 dearth of front-end load in comparison with McLaren and Crimson Bull. Ferrari loses out on nook entry, however the rear places energy down successfully. The hole is telling when wanting on the information, although telemetry exhibits a very giant loss on the chicane in turns 7–8. On this part, the SF-25 loses almost three and a half tenths to the front-runners.
That’s why the “actual” hole may 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 robust and fully sudden oversteer second. A “snap” that wasn’t attributable to any unfavorable attribute of the automotive. On this case, it was clearly a driver error, partly attributable to a robust gust of wind.
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