Heading into the USA Grand Prix at Austin, it was anticipated that the circuit might show important for Ferrari—and that prediction proved correct. The SF-25 suffered greater than eight-tenths of a second in qualifying, hampered by the constraints which have plagued the staff all through the season. Nonetheless, the struggles should not solely about journey top: the monitor’s bumps are inflicting points for Ferrari on a number of fronts. Let’s break down why.
“Sadly, this appears to be the present potential of our automobile,” stated Charles Leclerc after the Dash Qualifying, completely illustrating Ferrari’s difficulties at Austin. These challenges are mirrored not solely in eighth and tenth on the grid however within the almost nine-tenths of a second hole that extinguishes any pleasure.
As anticipated, Ferrari was anticipated to path Crimson Bull and McLaren, and the result was unsurprising. The SF-25 has little left to supply on this late stage of the championship, constrained by identified points and prematurely halted improvement. Sure moments on monitor replicate a 2025 season outlined by two phrases: limitations and compromises.
These elements are notably evident on the Texas monitor, one of the crucial demanding of the season. The difficulties should not solely linked to journey top but in addition to the circuit’s extremely different structure, with corners of various traits making it difficult to search out the proper steadiness.
Sadly, these challenges overlap with Ferrari’s ongoing efficiency weaknesses, which develop into much more pronounced in Austin. The SF-25 has lengthy been restricted by the necessity for compromises, with none clear areas of benefit in comparison with rivals. Trip top stays the primary problem, however it’s removed from the one one.
The SF-25 hindered by “common” issues
It’s no secret that the SF-25 struggles considerably with this facet, which has repeatedly represented the first efficiency limitation. At Austin, some groups pushed additional, corresponding to Sauber, which used aggressive journey top setups for the Dash earlier than retreating to protect a margin for the race after parc fermé reopens.
Not all vehicles react the identical method. Ferrari, avoiding overly aggressive setups partly as a consequence of restricted flexibility with skid put on, faces evident lack of downforce in comparison with rivals. This weak spot is most pronounced in sections requiring excessive vertical load and lateral stability, corresponding to the primary and third sectors.
For instance, utilizing Lewis Hamilton as a benchmark, a lot of the deficit happens in these two sectors, reflecting the SF-25’s effective steadiness limitations. Information evaluation exhibits the British driver dropping floor in almost each nook of the primary sector, with the quickest elements most affected.
Two associated points emerge. The primary sector, filled with bumps, calls for excellent aero-mechanical steadiness to take care of stability—a deficit clearly seen in Ferrari knowledge: 11 km/h slower within the opening part, 7 km/h slower by Flip 7, plus slower exits from the 8/9 sequence.
The hope is that Ferrari can enhance within the race, notably by managing tire degradation higher on Sunday. The staff may profit from parc fermé reopening to fine-tune efficiency primarily based on Dash learnings, though Leclerc believes the automobile’s potential doesn’t exceed what was seen on Friday.
Bumps create points past journey top
One other issue is the monitor’s undulations, which closely have an effect on the SF-25’s habits. Drivers, notably Hamilton, described the automobile as troublesome to drive—a priority engineers brazenly acknowledged. Austin’s structure compounds mechanical compromises: the automobile should stay larger to keep away from extreme ground contact whereas nonetheless absorbing bumps. With restricted setup flexibility, tire administration turns into much more difficult, particularly on flying laps, the place the SF-25 struggles most with comfortable compounds.
Sturdy winds and a number of bumps in sector one trigger tires to maneuver and slide, producing warmth that additional reduces grip. If the setup fails to soak up floor irregularities and lacks adequate downforce, the rear slides, rising instability—a recurring problem for each Leclerc and Hamilton, who often wrestle with the automobile’s rear steadiness.
Austin is a circuit of compromises, and Ferrari’s setup choices are restricted. On such different tracks, the SF-25 suffers from a slim working window, and aerodynamic-mechanical limitations affect a number of areas, together with slower corners. For instance, Flip 15, with mixed braking and front-end stress, highlights persistent understeer and Ferrari’s design constraints, explaining why each Leclerc and Hamilton face difficulties in the identical areas: the challenges are systemic.
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