Heading into the United States Grand Prix at Austin, it was expected that the circuit could prove critical for Ferrari—and that prediction proved accurate. The SF-25 suffered more than eight-tenths of a second in qualifying, hampered by the limitations that have plagued the team throughout the season. However, the struggles are not solely about ride height: the track’s bumps are causing issues for Ferrari on multiple fronts. Let’s break down why.
“Unfortunately, this seems to be the current potential of our car,” said Charles Leclerc after the Sprint Qualifying, perfectly illustrating Ferrari’s difficulties at Austin. These challenges are reflected not only in eighth and tenth on the grid but in the nearly nine-tenths of a second gap that extinguishes any excitement.
As anticipated, Ferrari was expected to trail Red Bull and McLaren, and the outcome was unsurprising. The SF-25 has little left to offer in this late stage of the championship, constrained by known issues and prematurely halted development. Certain moments on track reflect a 2025 season defined by two words: limitations and compromises.
These factors are particularly evident at the Texas track, one of the most demanding of the season. The difficulties are not only linked to ride height but also to the circuit’s highly varied layout, with corners of different characteristics making it challenging to find the correct balance.
Unfortunately, these challenges overlap with Ferrari’s ongoing performance weaknesses, which become even more pronounced in Austin. The SF-25 has long been limited by the need for compromises, without any clear areas of advantage compared to rivals. Ride height remains the main issue, but it is far from the only one.
The SF-25 hindered by “usual” problems
It is no secret that the SF-25 struggles significantly with this aspect, which has repeatedly represented the primary performance limitation. At Austin, some teams pushed further, such as Sauber, which used aggressive ride height setups for the Sprint before retreating to preserve a margin for the race after parc fermé reopens.
Not all cars react the same way. Ferrari, avoiding overly aggressive setups partly due to limited flexibility with skid wear, faces evident lack of downforce compared to rivals. This weakness is most pronounced in sections requiring high vertical load and lateral stability, such as the first and third sectors.
For example, using Lewis Hamilton as a benchmark, most of the deficit occurs in these two sectors, reflecting the SF-25’s fine balance limitations. Data analysis shows the British driver losing ground in nearly every corner of the first sector, with the fastest parts most affected.
Two related issues emerge. The first sector, full of bumps, demands perfect aero-mechanical balance to maintain stability—a deficit clearly visible in Ferrari data: 11 km/h slower in the opening section, 7 km/h slower through Turn 7, plus slower exits from the 8/9 sequence.
The hope is that Ferrari can improve in the race, particularly by managing tire degradation better on Sunday. The team may also benefit from parc fermé reopening to fine-tune performance based on Sprint learnings, although Leclerc believes the car’s potential does not exceed what was seen on Friday.
Bumps create issues beyond ride height
Another factor is the track’s undulations, which heavily affect the SF-25’s behavior. Drivers, particularly Hamilton, described the car as difficult to drive—a concern engineers openly acknowledged. Austin’s layout compounds mechanical compromises: the car must remain higher to avoid excessive floor contact while still absorbing bumps. With limited setup flexibility, tire management becomes even more challenging, especially on flying laps, where the SF-25 struggles most with soft compounds.
Strong winds and multiple bumps in sector one cause tires to move and slide, generating heat that further reduces grip. If the setup fails to absorb surface irregularities and lacks sufficient downforce, the rear slides, increasing instability—a recurring issue for both Leclerc and Hamilton, who frequently struggle with the car’s rear balance.
Austin is a circuit of compromises, and Ferrari’s setup options are limited. On such varied tracks, the SF-25 suffers from a narrow operating window, and aerodynamic-mechanical limitations impact multiple areas, including slower corners. For example, Turn 15, with combined braking and front-end stress, highlights chronic understeer and Ferrari’s design constraints, explaining why both Leclerc and Hamilton face difficulties in the same areas: the challenges are systemic.
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