Brake management has been a recurring topic for Ferrari throughout the 2025 season. Two main trends have emerged in this area, each linked to different phenomena and unrelated to any Brembo material faults. In Singapore, the Scuderia struggled with disc temperature management, pushing the lift and coast technique to the extreme. Earlier in the season, the primary concern had been Lewis Hamilton’s braking difficulties, which now appear less restrictive.
The origins of lift and coast
At Marina Bay, both Ferrari drivers faced severe brake overheating. For Lewis Hamilton, this led to extreme wear on discs and pads, causing a drop-off in performance during the final laps. Charles Leclerc also had to manage his pace throughout the race. The underlying cause was inadequate brake cooling, with air intakes designed too small in an effort to slightly improve aerodynamic efficiency.
This approach is common across all teams, as former Ferrari engineer Enrico Cardile, now Aston Martin’s Chief Technical Officer, explained before the race: “To manage car temperatures, you can open vents on the hood and sidepods to let more hot air escape, or use larger brake ducts, given the number of heavy braking zones. Both methods, however, can compromise aerodynamic efficiency, increasing drag and reducing top speed. It’s a compromise.”
Qualifying has become increasingly critical for final results, often decided by mere hundredths of a second. To gain even a slight efficiency advantage on Saturday, teams are willing to manage temperatures during the race by lifting off the throttle a few meters before braking. This strategy is one reason for the lift and coast technique, which Ferrari has increasingly adopted over the last two seasons, as reflected in repeated radio messages, though mastery remains partial.
The Singapore case
Marina Bay is historically one of the most challenging tracks for temperatures, not only due to the hot environment but also because low average speeds reduce airflow for cooling a system engaged about 20% of the time. Ferrari, however, suffered uniquely, indicating a clear misjudgment in cooling choices. Team Principal Frederic Vasseur stated after the race, “We experienced overheating not on the first lap, but from the second or third, and had to use lift and coast.” Beyond the time lost from early throttle release, extreme lift and coast caused a cascade of issues. Drivers lacked clear reference points and repeatedly adjusted brake balance, making it difficult to keep the tires in their optimal window.
Maranello’s current priority is understanding what led to this situation. It’s evident that factory simulations and free practice feedback did not guide the team toward adequate brake cooling. It remains unclear whether the SF-25 at Singapore used the new front ducts introduced in Baku, and whether these modifications played a role. Additionally, all teams struggled to heat front tires early in qualifying, often using brake-generated heat. This may have pushed Ferrari to overly aggressive duct choices, costing them in the race.
Hamilton’s braking challenges
Brake management also posed separate challenges for Hamilton in 2025. The British driver initially struggled to adapt to Ferrari’s braking behavior due to multiple factors, including the SF-25’s dynamic and aerodynamic response under braking, and a more aggressive use of engine braking compared to the Mercedes power unit, which favors rotation in corners but compromises entry stability.
Pedal stiffness also plays a role, as drivers have personal preferences. Some prefer a longer pedal travel to modulate braking, others shorter for quicker response. For Hamilton, an additional factor was acclimatization to Brembo materials after over a decade with Carbon Industrie, which behave differently under various conditions.
The seven-time world champion now seems to have found his rhythm, adopting a setup direction both similar and distinct from Leclerc. He also appreciated the new rear pad compounds developed by Brembo, available from Spa, whereas Leclerc had used them since Canada. Hamilton’s earlier braking issues were thus more about personal adaptation, while Singapore’s near retirement stemmed from incorrect cooling calibration. Overall, Ferrari faced a dual braking challenge in 2025: after seemingly resolving the first, the team now needs to address the second.
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