Ferrari has carried over the upgrade package to Jeddah, adding a track-specific modification for the Saudi Arabian circuit. Since the street track is extremely fast, the aerodynamicists opted to trim the movable flap at the trailing edge to reduce drag — a common approach in such cases. The beam wing has also changed, now featuring two elements with a different design compared to Bahrain.
The Scuderia is adapting the SF-25 to the circuit but hopes to exploit the track’s characteristics to benefit the car. The aerodynamic load increase brought by the Bahrain updates has been reflected both in data and driver feedback, but the car suffers from a very narrow performance window.
It has become clear that this Ferrari has very high potential — enough to challenge McLaren — but it only works optimally at minimal ride heights, which the engineers are still struggling to control. When the ride height varies, there is a loss of rear downforce that significantly reduces the car’s competitiveness.
Even in the final stages of the Bahrain GP — especially on the second stint on mediums — both drivers showed promising pace thanks to a “perfect alignment of conditions,” combining track temperature, improved grip, and the ride height that occurs with only half a fuel load. In short, the Ferrari suddenly “switches on” without any clear understanding of why it happens at certain times and not others.
That’s why Fred Vasseur continues to emphasize that, before introducing new modifications, it’s crucial to work on the car’s setup. The SF-25 hides real potential that cannot yet be fully unlocked — hence the three-tenth deficit to McLaren.
Ultimately, it’s up to Diego Tondi’s aerodynamic department to deliver updates that increase the car’s downforce. With more vertical load, Ferrari wouldn’t be forced to chase peak performance through minimal ride heights, resulting in more consistent output.
Jeddah’s smooth surface allows cars to run low, which could play in Ferrari’s favor this weekend.
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