The Formula 1 weekend at Interlagos has turned into another complicated challenge for Ferrari. The Brazilian Grand Prix seems to highlight all the weaknesses of the SF-25, and even the team’s hard work has not managed to reverse the situation. The Sprint Race — 100 kilometers of pure action — mattered less for the result and more for the opportunity to collect valuable data to prepare the cars for Sunday’s main event. At the end of the Sprint, Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line in fifth position, while Lewis Hamilton ended up seventh.
Ferrari starts strong, but the race is halted
Even if the Sprint distance equals only about a third of the full Grand Prix, the preparation on the grid is no different. Both Ferrari cars are lined up with their drivers ready inside the cockpits, while the engineers go through the usual final checks after mechanics verify all key systems — the power unit, transmission, braking system, and hybrid components.
The day begins on a damp Interlagos circuit still showing traces of the heavy overnight rain. The asphalt is not completely dry, but despite some wet patches, the drivers take the gamble to start on slick tyres. Ferrari splits strategies: Charles Leclerc opts for the red-marked Soft compound, while Lewis Hamilton goes for the Mediums. Everything is set for what promises to be an exciting start.
As the lights go out, Leclerc immediately gains one position, but it’s his teammate who impresses most — Lewis Hamilton executes a lightning start, climbing four places within the opening meters. After just a few corners, the two Ferraris find themselves one behind the other, with the British driver closely following car number 16. A radio message soon arrives from the pit wall warning of carbon debris at turn 4, caused by early-lap contact among other cars.
Parts of the track remain shiny and slippery, especially along the main straight and through the first sector, where passing cars lift a fine spray of water. Leclerc keeps studying Fernando Alonso’s lines, but the Spanish veteran refuses to leave any room, freezing the battle. Hamilton is also given instructions from his race engineer to improve his apex in turn 10 to achieve a cleaner exit heading into the following left-hand corner.
Then, on lap six, the unexpected happens. Oscar Piastri loses control of his McLaren exiting the “Senna S” and crashes heavily into the barriers. Franco Colapinto and Nico Hülkenberg soon meet the same unlucky fate. The Safety Car is immediately deployed, but soon after, the race direction decides to bring out the red flag to allow marshals to safely clear the damaged cars from the circuit.
All drivers, including the two from Maranello, return to the pits to wait for the restart. The interruption reshuffles the strategic cards and adds new unpredictability to the 100-kilometer Sprint. For Lando Norris, holding position at the restart could help extend his lead over his teammate Piastri, while for Max Verstappen, it’s another good chance to gain additional points on the Australian.
Leclerc targets Alonso, but top speed limits Ferrari
After a roughly fifteen-minute pause, the drivers get back in their cars. The engines roar to life, and the group heads out of the pit lane again. Initially, a standing start appeared likely, with cars returning to the grid in their pre-red flag order, but the race direction ultimately opts for a rolling restart behind the Safety Car.
The Safety Car leads the field for a couple of laps as everyone works to bring the tyres up to the correct temperature window. During the break, the Monegasque switches to the Medium compound — a move fully allowed by regulations. Once racing resumes, the intra-team duel at Ferrari lights up: Hamilton attempts an outside move on his teammate into turn 4, but Charles Leclerc defends aggressively and keeps position.
Right after that, Charles Leclerc returns to the chase of Alonso, who continues to hold the ideal racing line. However, the number 16 Ferrari looks twitchy at the rear and unstable in traction zones. A minor mistake is enough to compromise his corner exit, and wheelspin is a constant threat. As the race enters its second phase, the two Ferraris are running sixth and seventh respectively.
Up ahead, Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin turns into a moving roadblock. The experienced Spaniard uses every inch of asphalt to defend, denying Leclerc the straight-line speed needed to complete an overtake. Despite multiple attempts, the Monegasque driver cannot find a way past, while Hamilton remains tucked in behind, ready to seize any opportunity should either Alonso or his teammate slip up.
Leclerc’s effort is in vain
Ferrari’s biggest weakness in this Sprint Race becomes clear: top speed. Even with the DRS open, the SF-25 struggles to significantly close the gap to its rivals. Adding to the problem is less-than-ideal traction, which compromises acceleration out of slow corners and limits overtaking opportunities. Lap after lap, the situation remains unchanged.
Lewis Hamilton continues to follow his teammate closely, but both are trapped in a flat rhythm with little action. The aerodynamic and mechanical limitations of the Maranello car weigh heavily on its overall pace. The turbulent wake created by Alonso’s Aston Martin further disturbs airflow over Leclerc’s front wing, making his car even more difficult to handle.
From the Ferrari pit wall, Riccardo Adami and his colleagues suggest minor in-race adjustments to improve steering feel and rear stability, but the SF-25 continues to behave nervously, with the rear end stepping out under direction changes. With just four laps remaining, Leclerc finally finds the right opening to overtake Alonso after a long pursuit, moving up into fifth place.
Moments later, Hamilton tries to copy the maneuver, but Alonso — drawing on all his experience — defends fiercely and keeps the position for the final three laps, crossing the line just ahead of the British driver. The checkered flag falls on a Sprint that was far from spectacular for Ferrari. The final result, however, accurately reflects the car’s true potential: it simply lacked the pace to challenge Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
The Prancing Horse ends the mini-race without major drama but also without highlights. The team managed to limit the damage thanks mainly to Hamilton’s early gains, yet the presence of both Mercedes drivers on the podium makes Saturday’s outcome a bitter one. The German team now leapfrogs Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, adding even more pressure ahead of Sunday’s full-length Grand Prix.
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