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 line with the Prancing Horse, many issues might have modified, particularly regarding McLaren’s benefit. Contemplating the present efficiency of the MCL39, it appears the Woking group 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 mentioned that solely at present’s qualifying session will supply 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 however increase the automotive’s working window—one thing it positively wants. When it comes to 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.
Nonetheless, this lack of rotation is a normal challenge 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 confused tyre is the entrance left. In flip 5, which options adverse banking, the Ferrari struggles quite a bit to search out the apex.
Course 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. Nonetheless, different groups have proven adequate rotation to have the ability to carve a a lot tighter line. This reduces the chance of struggling a snap on nook exit when the driving force will get again on the throttle.
The opposite main dealing with challenge, stemming from a “weak” entrance finish, is in path adjustments. The SF-25 not solely lacks agility but in addition tends to turn out to be unbalanced when it wants to change the racing line shortly. That is positively a weak level, as the driving force is pressured to raise off, leading to vital time loss by way of the nook.
Spanish GP, FP2: Charles’ mistake prices in qualifying tempo
Lewis Hamilton said that the automotive is troublesome to drive. This means the group is as soon as once more attempting a really aggressive setup this season. We’ll solely have affirmation of this later at present. 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 knowledge, although telemetry exhibits a very giant 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 perhaps round three tenths, not the 5 tenths proven in FP2. We took an in depth have a look at the telemetry knowledge associated to the second Charles Leclerc misplaced these three and a half tenths. On nook entry, he suffered a powerful and fully surprising oversteer second. A “snap” that wasn’t attributable to any adverse attribute of the automotive. On this case, it was clearly a driver error, partly as a consequence of a powerful gust of wind.
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