AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Unraveling Ferrari’s Disappointing Start in 2025 Formula 1 Season: An Analysis of Technical Setbacks and Future Prospects

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 19, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Lewis Hamilton’s Potential Ferrari Comeback: Lessons from Debut and Outlook for Chinese Grand Prix

16 LECLERC Charles (mco), Scuderia Ferrari SF-25, 44 HAMILTON Lewis (gbr), Scuderia Ferrari SF-25, action during the Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix 2025, 1st round of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship from March 14 to 16, 2025 on the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, in Melbourne, Australia - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI

Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 season got off to a rocky start, marked by a disappointing performance at the Melbourne competition – a far cry from the high expectations set for their SF-25 model. The lacklustre race, riddled with driver errors, strategic pitfalls, and subpar race pace, transformed a seemingly promising start into a weekend of frustration. As they navigate this early hurdle, Ferrari remains optimistic that this is just an outlier and not an indication of deep-seated problems.

The precipitous drop in Ferrari’s performance from Friday to Saturday at the Australian Grand Prix was starkly noticeable. Rolling into Australia, Ferrari retained the same aerodynamic setup used in the Bahrain tests, with a focus on adapting the car for wet conditions. However, in comparison to Red Bull, Ferrari’s higher downforce rear wing was evident.

Despite an encouraging start – Ferrari leading Friday’s timesheets with an impressive race pace in FP2 – matters took a turn for the worse as the weekend wore on. Unlike their competitors who made strides in the qualifying rounds, Ferrari remained stagnant. The pursuit of additional downforce emerged as a primary issue, as it left the SF-25 trailing by 5-6 km/h (3-4mph) on the straights (with DRS closed) compared to its rivals.

The situation was further compounded by suboptimal outlaps in Q3 from both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who struggled to get their tyres into the correct temperature window. This proved especially costly in the slower corners of the final sector, where they lost crucial time against McLaren. An increase in downforce should have improved stability; instead, the car displayed a peculiar mix of understeer on entry and oversteer on exit, suggesting a delicate balance issue possibly linked to tyre preparation and an overly sensitive setup. This could be an ominous sign of the car’s extreme sensitivity to setup changes.

Charles Leclerc, in his post-qualifying debrief, did not mince his words expressing his frustration, stating, “I think we’ve lost relative competitiveness compared to [Friday]. We know what we’ve changed, so we’ll have to look into it for sure.” His remarks hinted at significant setup changes that might have compromised raw performance. Loic Serra, the newly appointed technical director (chassis), who was on-site in Australia, closely scrutinized Ferrari’s operations throughout the weekend.

A key reason behind the loss in competitiveness appears to be an increase in ride height from Friday to Saturday, likely a safety measure to avoid excessive skid wear, a costly problem that led to Ferrari’s disqualification at Austin in 2023. While there is no definitive proof that the SF-25 encountered bouncing issues in Melbourne, the decision to elevate the floor hints at compliance concerns with FIA regulations. The bumps and aggressive kerbs of the Albert Park circuit may have prompted this cautious approach.

As they gear up for Shanghai where the track surface is significantly smoother, Ferrari will be keen to ascertain whether these modifications were a one-off necessity or indicative of a more fundamental sensitivity to setup changes. The upcoming Chinese Grand Prix could offer crucial insights into whether the SF-25 can reclaim its leading position or whether this early-season hiccup signifies a longer-term struggle for dominance.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Lewis Hamilton sounds alarm for F1 rivals: stronger than ever ahead of 2026 showdown
Motorsports

Lewis Hamilton sounds alarm for F1 rivals: stronger than ever ahead of 2026 showdown

Lewis Hamilton Issues Stark Warning to Rivals: “I’ll Be Stronger Than Ever” in 2026! In a bold declaration that has...

by Publisher
February 27, 2026
Laurent Mekies reveals his mission to protect Red Bull’s legacy amid fierce F1 challenges
Motorsports

Laurent Mekies reveals his mission to protect Red Bull’s legacy amid fierce F1 challenges

Getty Images

by David Castro
February 27, 2026
Formula 1 shatters revenue records with stunning $3.87 billion haul in 2025
Motorsports

Formula 1 shatters revenue records with stunning $3.87 billion haul in 2025

Formula 1 Races to New Heights: A Jaw-Dropping $3.87 Billion Revenue in 2025! In an astonishing display of financial prowess,...

by David Castro
February 27, 2026
Mick Schumacher’s shocking IndyCar debut sparks fierce backlash: ‘more dangerous than F1!’
Motorsports

Mick Schumacher’s shocking IndyCar debut sparks fierce backlash: ‘more dangerous than F1!’

MICK SCHUMACHER'S INDYCAR DEBUT SPARKS CONTROVERSY: 'MORE DANGEROUS THAN F1!' In a shocking twist in the world of motorsport, Mick...

by Publisher
February 27, 2026

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News

Volvo EX30 com nova versão de acesso  com 150 cv

“Volvo EX30 with a new entry-level version with 150 hp.”

February 27, 2026
Grupo Renault assume controlo da Flexis

“Renault Group takes control of Flexis.”

February 27, 2026
Lewis Hamilton sounds alarm for F1 rivals: stronger than ever ahead of 2026 showdown

Lewis Hamilton sounds alarm for F1 rivals: stronger than ever ahead of 2026 showdown

February 27, 2026
Laurent Mekies reveals his mission to protect Red Bull’s legacy amid fierce F1 challenges

Laurent Mekies reveals his mission to protect Red Bull’s legacy amid fierce F1 challenges

February 27, 2026

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

MSports Play Icon
MSports Play
The New streaming service
Download
×
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.