F1 Australian GP race pace analysis: simulation was very positive for Ferrari SF25

F1 Australian GP race pace analysis: simulation was very positive for Ferrari SF25. The FP2 race pace simulation was very positive for Ferrari.

In the second half of free practice for the 2025 Australian GP, teams prepared their cars for long-distance runs ahead of Sunday morning’s race. This test allows teams to optimize their setups between single-lap performance and long runs, trying out the hardest compounds available in Melbourne. As expected, Ferrari and McLaren were the benchmark teams, and the FP2 race pace simulation confirmed the performance picture in Australia.

The two leading teams first focused on single-lap performance, with Leclerc holding just a tenth of a second advantage over the two McLaren drivers. The SF-25 and MCL39 opted for different aerodynamic setups, with the Woking-based team favoring top speed over pure downforce. Despite this, the papaya-colored car still showed significant aerodynamic load, to the extent that they tested with only a single beam wing to optimize straight-line speed. Both cars still have room for improvement on the power unit side, particularly Ferrari. The SF-25’s top speed remains lower than the MCL39’s, suggesting that the Maranello car has some margin left in terms of power deployment modes.

In the analyzed race pace simulation, teams used the yellow-marked C4 compound from Pirelli’s 2025 range. However, the age of the tire sets varied between Ferrari and McLaren. Specifically, Charles Leclerc used a set of C4s that had seven more laps of wear, and over the entire simulation, the Monegasque driver completed four more laps than the two McLarens.

Race pace simulation FP2: Ferrari vs. McLaren

Source: f1ingenerale

At the start of the simulation, Charles Leclerc opted for a much gentler tire introduction, with an out lap of 1:57.138, compared to Lando Norris’ 1:31.123 and Oscar Piastri’s 1:30.043. This time difference naturally affects the overall race pace average but was necessary to avoid over-stressing the tires, which had already been used for an initial qualifying simulation earlier in the session. However, this “warming-up” approach paid off, with the Monegasque averaging 1:22.833, while Oscar Piastri and Norris had average times of 1:24.003 and 1:23.689, respectively. While these times seem significantly different, traffic-affected laps must be considered for all drivers analyzed.

Lewis Hamilton also showed strong performance, not immediately as fast as Charles Leclerc but demonstrating excellent consistency and a solid out lap compared to the Ferrari driver. The comparison between the two will help Ferrari better understand and optimize stint starts, which will be crucial in such a tightly packed field. By the end of the simulation, Charles Leclerc’s tire set had completed 24 laps, compared to 20 for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri—an encouraging sign despite the initial stress on the tires.

Mercedes also had a solid simulation, with George Russell testing the hard compound for a potential second stint in the race, though his pace was slightly inconsistent. His race pace averaged around 1:26.9, heavily influenced by traffic. Carlos Sainz also performed well, completing an 11-lap stint on the medium tires with an average pace of around 1:23.203.