We should give full credit score to the wonderful work carried out by the Ferrari System 1 crew through the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. In Mexico Metropolis, beneath the management of crew principal Frédéric Vasseur, the Scuderia demonstrated clear indicators of progress each in execution and total automobile stability. The French supervisor had beforehand spoken concerning the significance of constant execution as one of many key foundations for achievement, and through this race weekend, he lastly delivered on that promise. The occasion served as a concrete and visual demonstration of what the Frenchman had meant by these phrases, because the Ferrari group he directs managed to optimize the efficiency of the SF-25 in each element, exhibiting sturdy management over each the technical and operational sides of the weekend.
Qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix turned out to be one of the crucial aggressive and tightly contested periods of the whole 2025 System 1 season. A number of groups had been evenly matched when it got here to pure one-lap efficiency, making the session notably intense. The brief size of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit naturally contributes to compressing the gaps between drivers and groups, which means even the smallest mistake may consequence within the lack of a number of positions. Moreover, the monitor’s floor evolves quickly over the course of the periods, making grip ranges change lap after lap. This fast evolution was a key variable that groups needed to have in mind, because it required fixed adaptation. It was due to this fact as much as each the engineers and the drivers to appropriately assess the altering grip ranges of the asphalt and modify their driving method, tire warm-up procedures, and automobile settings accordingly to extract the utmost potential efficiency.
Ferrari confirmed a superb total stability, one thing that had already been observed through the free apply periods the day prior to this. Nevertheless, regardless of that progress, the principle weaknesses of the SF-25 had been nonetheless seen within the entry section of sure slower corners, the place the entrance finish often lacked precision. General, the traction of the automobile was very sturdy and efficient, however not fairly as optimum because it had been on Friday. In these earlier periods, Crimson Bull had gained a noticeable benefit in nook entry, managing to hold greater minimal speeds into the apex earlier than shedding a while within the second half of the flip. That dynamic, nonetheless, modified fairly a bit on Saturday, as Ferrari’s engineers and technicians made changes that improved the automobile’s response considerably.
SF-25: loads of work on nook entry
The Maranello-based crew continued its typical fine-tuning method all through the weekend, constructing upon a really stable base setup developed on the manufacturing facility. The hassle made at Maranello deserves explicit recognition, as by means of in depth simulator work and aerodynamic correlation research, Ferrari’s engineers managed to attain a stability that has not often been seen this season on the Italian automobile. This delicate equilibrium between front-end responsiveness and rear stability shouldn’t be simple to acquire, particularly at excessive altitude tracks like Mexico Metropolis, the place the skinny air impacts each downforce and cooling effectivity.
One of the vital seen and vital areas of enchancment was on the first chicane. The SF-25 gained much less traction in comparison with earlier periods, that a lot is true, however the hole to the rivals remained very constant and secure throughout totally different laps. The true profit, nonetheless, turned evident in cornering efficiency itself, as on Friday the automobile had suffered from understeer and inconsistent entrance grip in that space. The improved dealing with over the kerbs was additionally outstanding, because of a setup rigorously studied to restrict the suspension’s oscillation and maintain the platform secure. Ferrari’s engineers clearly labored to make sure the automobile remained predictable and composed when driving over the kerbs — a key issue on a circuit the place aggressive kerb utilization can result in priceless tenths of a second.
Flip 4 was one other space the place the crew invested a substantial quantity of consideration and energy. Through the first free apply periods, Ferrari misplaced priceless time on nook entry, notably when in comparison with rivals like McLaren and Mercedes. Nevertheless, by the point qualifying arrived, the SF-25 had develop into one of the crucial aggressive automobiles in that particular nook entry section, demonstrating the progress achieved by means of in a single day changes and simulator steering.
Within the entry section of Flip 6, the pink automobiles even confirmed a bonus of roughly six-tenths of a second over Lando Norris for a number of meters. To make clear, this benefit was a peak profit achieved primarily beneath braking, which then progressively evened out by means of the remainder of the nook. This particular efficiency element highlights how Ferrari, between Friday and Saturday, selected to considerably cut back the hole in nook entry — a strategic and technical determination that in the end proved to be the right one in enhancing the general lap time. This fine-tuning of the braking section and nook entry stability allowed the drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, to push tougher with out compromising stability or mid-corner management.
One other fascinating and essential space of study considerations the second sector of the Mexican circuit, which is usually characterised by a flowing collection of medium and high-speed corners. That is the portion of the monitor the place many anticipated the Ferrari SF-25 to wrestle in comparison with its direct rivals, primarily as a result of automobile’s earlier difficulties in sustaining aerodynamic load by means of quick directional adjustments. The expectation was that Ferrari would lose time right here due to a scarcity of vertical load switch effectivity. Nevertheless, the Italian crew shocked many by making a setup that allowed the automobile to be remarkably aggressive and environment friendly on this sector. The stability they achieved enabled the SF-25 to hold extra velocity by means of the fast turns with out shedding an excessive amount of stability from the rear finish. Despite the fact that rear stability was not completely excellent, the enhancements had been clear and measurable, particularly when analyzing telemetry comparisons.
Ferrari: the significance of high velocity
All through the whole weekend, the Prancing Horse loved a noticeable benefit when it comes to high velocity, an element that performed a key position in each qualifying and race simulations. Having a aggressive straight-line velocity is very priceless on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the place the lengthy foremost straight typically exceeds 1.2 kilometers and the place overtaking alternatives rely closely on DRS activation and drag effectivity. Ferrari managed to mix environment friendly downforce ranges with diminished aerodynamic drag, permitting the SF-25 to succeed in spectacular terminal velocities.
Nevertheless, within the decisive Q3 session, McLaren made a transparent and robust step ahead, particularly on account of Lando Norris’s capacity to interpret and method this advanced sequence of corners in a very environment friendly method. The MCL39 confirmed nice solidity and consistency all through the so-called “snake” part — which incorporates Turns 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 — recovering a substantial period of time on the automobiles from Maranello. Lando Norris’s exact driving model, mixed with McLaren’s wonderful mechanical grip in that space, helped the crew shut the hole.
An analogous sample emerged within the stadium part, the place beneath braking Ferrari remained barely forward of its rivals however then misplaced some floor from the mid-corner section onwards on account of traction limitations. Nonetheless, the SF-25’s total dealing with and predictability remained sturdy, with Charles Leclerc capable of confidently place the automobile precisely the place he wished, which is a vital side for each qualifying laps and race administration.
Lastly, one final however essential side of Ferrari’s efficiency deserves consideration: high velocity and straight-line effectivity. This ingredient of the setup may show particularly priceless through the race itself, as defending positions in Mexico closely will depend on minimizing vulnerability alongside the straights. The perfect high velocity values throughout every sector of the circuit belonged to the 2 Ferraris, a particular trait that might present a decisive defensive benefit. With speeds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour earlier than Flip 1, having the ability to withstand assaults from automobiles behind is a big asset, notably towards rivals like Crimson Bull and McLaren, who depend on excessive high velocity for overtaking.
In abstract, the Mexican Grand Prix weekend highlighted how Ferrari’s technical division and operations crew managed to mix aerodynamic effectivity, mechanical stability, and execution at a really excessive stage. The SF-25 proved able to adapting nicely to a demanding circuit that exposes each the strengths and weaknesses of any System 1 automobile. Whereas there may be nonetheless work to be carried out, notably when it comes to traction out of sluggish corners and sustaining rear-end stability by means of quick sections, the general efficiency marked an vital step ahead. The progress seen in Mexico Metropolis confirmed that the Scuderia shouldn’t be solely enhancing in tempo but additionally in consistency and flexibility — two components which can be key for difficult the likes of Crimson Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes within the ultimate races of the 2025 System 1 season.
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