Ferrari fast on Friday, lost on Saturday: Leclerc reveals the reason behind the collapse
Another weekend, another confirmation of a recurring issue that has haunted Ferrari since the start of the 2025 season: a car that shines on Friday but collapses by Saturday. Charles Leclerc’s comments after qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix, combined with the telemetry data from the weekend, perfectly align with the analysis previously highlighted in our feature “Why Ferrari only looks strong on Fridays.”
Visibly frustrated after another disappointing qualifying session, Charles Leclerc said: “In FP1 things were looking good. We were quick and we weren’t even pushing to the limit — there was still some margin. But then we had to make some mandatory changes to the car, and from FP2 onwards we really struggled. I honestly don’t know what to say anymore. I gave everything I had, but the car was extremely difficult to drive.”
Data confirms Ferrari’s recurring problem
The Monegasque driver’s words are fully supported by the data. Telemetry shows that during FP1 and FP2, the SF-25 ranked among the fastest cars in top speed. Yet by qualifying, it had dropped to mid-field levels. This has become a consistent trend and can be explained by Ferrari’s specific approach to setup work. While most teams use the first practice session to gather data on balance and tire behavior, Ferrari tends to run the car in an almost qualifying or race-ready configuration from the very beginning — with aggressive engine modes and a lower initial ride height during FP1, later raised in FP2 or by Saturday.
This method allows the engineers to evaluate floor wear early — one of the most delicate areas of the SF-25 and the same factor that led to the team’s double disqualification in China. The goal is to assess how much the floor degrades and adjust the setup before the decisive sessions. However, this process inevitably forces the team to raise the car, compromising performance. Each time the ride height is increased, the car’s balance suffers, tire temperatures become harder to control as sliding increases, and aerodynamic efficiency drops, making the car unpredictable and unstable.
Singapore exposes Ferrari’s biggest weakness
At Singapore, a circuit notorious for its bumpy surface, this “mandatory correction” once again resulted in a dramatic loss of performance. The SF-25 lost traction, stability, and front-end confidence, turning into what Charles Leclerc described as “really difficult to drive.” Once again, Ferrari found itself trapped by a technical limitation it cannot escape — forced to choose between outright speed and protecting the floor from damage.
A car trapped by its own limits
Until Ferrari solves the fundamental structural issue of the SF-25’s floor and its sensitivity to ride height, the car will remain a “Friday car” — capable of impressing with competitive lap times early in the weekend, only to fade when it truly matters. Sadly for the Scuderia, the updates introduced mid-season, including the revised floor and new rear suspension geometry, have failed to deliver the expected results.
Looking ahead, the 2026 regulations — which will significantly reduce the effectiveness of ground effect — may offer some relief. Yet, Ferrari’s current inability to resolve such a critical technical weakness remains deeply concerning. For Charles Leclerc and the team, the frustration continues: strong beginnings, disappointing endings, and a car that still feels like it’s fighting itself more than its rivals.
Leave a Reply