F1, Ferrari analysis: why Zandvoort amplified the limits of the SF-25
Charles Leclerc summed up Ferrari’s struggles by saying that the Dutch circuit had “everything the SF-25 hates.” His words offered a perfect starting point to explain, in detail, why the Modenese car was so uncomfortable around Zandvoort. In our usual previews, we expected the Scuderia to be more competitive and able to fight Red Bull, but the reality turned out very differently. Let’s break down the reasons.
Why was Zandvoort such a difficult track?
According to team principal Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari arrived in Zandvoort confident they could achieve something decent. The reality, however, was very different from expectations, with another disappointing qualifying session that immediately compromised the race. With overtaking so difficult at this circuit, Saturday’s struggles became an obstacle that Ferrari could not overcome.
Another factor that made life harder was Racing Bulls’ surprising pace. Credit goes to French-Algerian rookie Isack Hadjar, who delivered an outstanding weekend. The 20-year-old benefitted from a very competitive VCARB02 which, in the 2025 season, is getting close to the level of its “big sister.” Max Verstappen is well aware of it and has openly praised the work of Laurent Mekies.
The former Ferrari man has played a key role in transforming Red Bull’s junior team and is trying to replicate that influence with the senior squad in Milton Keynes. His appointment was no coincidence. But returning to Ferrari, Zandvoort highlighted specific weaknesses of the SF-25, almost creating a mechanical “resonance” effect that amplified its limitations.
The front axle, Ferrari’s biggest weakness at Zandvoort
The first and clearest problem Ferrari faced in the Netherlands was the front axle. From the very first pre-season tests, this part of the SF-25 has been a recurring weak spot, dictating much of the car’s on-track performance. The car has consistently struggled to generate adequate front grip, and Zandvoort only made that more evident.
The Dutch layout features several corners that are particularly punishing for a weak front end, such as Turn 1, Turn 9 and Turn 10, all of which involve a long entry phase. This loads the front heavily, and since the SF-25’s limit of adhesion on the front axle is lower than many of its rivals, the car suffered from chronic understeer all weekend.
In corners requiring significant trail braking and demanding entry precision, Ferrari consistently lost time. Red Bull also experienced some difficulties with the front, but its car had a much broader setup window that allowed better management of these issues. And there was another factor to make things worse for Ferrari.
Banked corners and ride height challenges
Modern Formula 1 cars are extremely sensitive to track surfaces. All teams must deal with variations in asphalt smoothness and bumps, managing ride height with great precision to maintain consistent downforce. Cars need to run at a carefully calculated distance from the ground to extract maximum performance.
Normally, there is a small window where the car operates efficiently. At Zandvoort, the asphalt itself is smooth, but the circuit features steeply banked corners, up to 19 degrees, which create constant ride height variations. And that is precisely the condition that removes competitiveness from the SF-25.
On top of that, compressions around the track also influenced ride height and stability. This was another limiting factor that caused difficulties in tyre management. As a result, Ferrari struggled to get its tyres working properly in qualifying, which reduced grip levels and compromised performance — a recurring theme throughout 2025.
During single-lap runs, Ferrari’s compounds often slipped out of their ideal operating window. That meant large parts of a lap were driven with tyre temperatures far from the target range, the perfect recipe for losing time in cornering. The combination of all these factors made Ferrari’s task even harder, exposing the SF-25’s weaknesses in brutal fashion.
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