Scuderia Ferrari has been intensively working in their simulator ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix as they aim to recover from the disappointment of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s double disqualification in China.
The Italian side endured a historic low in Shanghai, marking the first time in their illustrious history that both of their cars were disqualified from a Grand Prix. This dramatic turn of events followed Hamilton’s triumphant Sprint victory, which initially seemed to signal a strong weekend. However, the celebrations were short-lived as post-race inspections revealed rule infractions on both SF-25s, stripping Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc of their respective P5 and P6 finishes. Hamilton’s car was deemed illegal due to excessive plank wear, measuring between 8.5-8.6mm when the minimum requirement is 9mm. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc’s car was found to be underweight by just 1kg, a consequence of the Chinese Grand Prix shifting from a planned two-stop strategy to a one-stop race.
Beyond the double disqualification, Ferrari also faced deeper performance concerns in China. Despite Hamilton’s Sprint victory, adjustments made to his setup for the Grand Prix led to miscalculations in ride height, causing the car to run too low and ultimately violating FIA regulations.
Ferrari to Adjust Suspension Settings for Hamilton and Leclerc at Suzuka
Determined to bounce back at Suzuka, Ferrari has spent the time between races analyzing various ways to enhance the SF-25’s performance. According to the Italian media, the team remains confident that their car concept is fundamentally sound and does not require drastic modifications.
However, simulator data from running the SF-25 at Suzuka has highlighted specific mechanical and aerodynamic issues. While the car exhibits strong potential, Ferrari engineers have identified deficiencies in the suspension’s mechanical response and aerodynamic inefficiencies at the rear, particularly with the floor’s ability to optimize airflow.
To address these challenges, Ferrari tested around 20 different solutions and concluded that the best course of action does not involve fast-tracking the new floor upgrade planned for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Instead, they will focus on modifying the suspension settings on both Lewis Hamilton’s and Charles Leclerc’s cars for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Maranello engineers believe that by implementing a revised suspension setup, Ferrari can achieve a better balance between the front and rear—something they failed to do in Australia and China. The team is hopeful that this adjustment will unlock the SF-25’s true potential at Suzuka, with further upgrades set to arrive in Miami.
Ferrari Must Unlock the SF-25’s Performance to Keep Pace with McLaren
Suspension tweaks won’t be the only adaptation Hamilton will need to adjust to in Japan. Ferrari has also upgraded the software on his steering wheel, introducing additional engine mapping settings that Leclerc has yet to receive. These enhancements aim to provide Hamilton with more detailed control over his power unit, potentially improving his performance on track.
However, despite these efforts, the challenge awaiting Ferrari at Suzuka remains significant. Even if their suspension modifications prove successful, team principal Fred Vasseur has cautioned that optimizing the SF-25 could also expose the team to further errors, as they must execute everything flawlessly to maximize their results.
Following the disastrous double disqualification in Shanghai, Ferrari now trails McLaren by 61 points in the Constructors’ Championship. Last season, the Scuderia narrowly lost out on the title to their British rivals by just 14 points after a season-long battle that went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi. If Ferrari hopes to stay in the fight this year, they must unlock the SF-25’s full potential as soon as possible.
