The SF-25 continues to be a single-seater that’s troublesome to place in the correct working window, with a significant weak spot in qualifying, however in current weekends the outcomes have improved sufficient to convey Ferrari again to second place within the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren stays distant by way of each factors and efficiency, however the 2025 season can nonetheless ship satisfaction, particularly if the upcoming updates convey vital progress within the automotive’s most problematic areas. The outlook for the Maranello workforce was outlined by workforce principal Fred Vasseur after the current Spanish GP, which concluded the European triple header forward of the journey to Canada.
Fred Vasseur: “SF-25, a delicate automotive”
The 2 consecutive podiums achieved by Charles Leclerc in Monte Carlo and Barcelona have partially improved the workforce’s season report and boosted morale at Ferrari, however the outcomes from the primary 9 races of the yr have nonetheless fallen in need of expectations. Fred Vasseur, interviewed by La Stampa, believes the important thing subject is the SF-25’s poor efficiency in qualifying: “When it comes to race tempo, we’re kind of there. The attribute of this automotive is that it struggles way more in qualifying than within the race. Like final yr, however extra pronounced. In Jeddah we had been three tenths off pole, then within the race we had been the quickest. In Imola, on Saturday we had been nowhere (each automobiles eradicated in Q2, ed.), and the following day we made a comeback. With 4 groups preventing on the high, if you wish to win, you’ll be able to’t afford to start out on the third or fourth row.”
Attempting to label the SF-25, Fred Vasseur described it as “delicate”, including: “I don’t know if it’s troublesome, however we battle to get it into the correct window to get the tyres to work at their finest. Qualifying in Imola and Miami had been emblematic, the place we had been quicker 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 components are coming and that Ferrari doesn’t but intend to desert the present automotive to concentrate on subsequent yr: “I can say we have now some developments on the way in which. 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 nice.”
Talking of 2026, Fred Vasseur added: “It’s a contemporary 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 unattainable to have references in comparison with the others.”
Drivers: Hamilton’s struggles, Leclerc’s development
Ferrari, a lot is being mentioned about Lewis Hamilton’s efficiency, clearly nonetheless not comfy with the SF-25: “It’s a matter of particulars,” mentioned 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 a superb weekend and a much less good one. However they’re nonetheless particulars — understanding the automotive, 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 carry Hamilton’s spirits, Fred Vasseur mentioned: “It’s about persevering with to work and push collectively. Truthfully, the collaboration is nice. You study extra from powerful moments, and also you come again stronger. In Spain, each automobiles had an issue within the remaining stint, and Lewis’s efficiency suffered from it.”
In Hamilton’s adaptation course of at Ferrari, the connection along with his race engineer Riccardo Adami performs an necessary position. The chemistry between the 2 nonetheless appears to be growing, not helped by some damaging workforce radio messages and a mishap in Monaco qualifying that resulted in a penalty for the Briton: “It was as a consequence of a GPS subject — we misplaced Max Verstappen’s sign,” the previous Alfa Romeo workforce boss emphasised. The French supervisor added on communication with the pit wall: “The primary query to ask is the place we will enhance and what Lewis expects by way of info. Crew radio doesn’t scare me — some reactions are comprehensible if 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 occurring.”
Hamilton’s efficiency appears particularly poor compared with a Leclerc who seems to have reached the most effective stage of his profession: “I’d say so, he’s doing a superb job,” Fred Vasseur confirmed. “In comparison with the previous, he’s taken an enormous step ahead by way of readability about what he desires. He’s extra direct in telling the engineers what he wants.”
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