We have reached the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, and once again the same recurring factors in Formula 1 are influencing the performance of the Ferrari SF-25: the delicate management of ride heights, the fine balance between aerodynamic and mechanical setup compromises, and the ever-crucial administration of tyre temperatures. Confidence, however, remains strong within the Scuderia Ferrari camp. The team arrives at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez with renewed optimism and a positive mindset, boosted by the encouraging performance and competitive step forward displayed at the previous round in Texas. Yet, in Mexico City, there are several decisive elements on which the Maranello team simply cannot afford to make mistakes, as even small misjudgments could prove costly over the course of the demanding weekend.
Positive signs remain for Ferrari despite uncertainties
Ferrari approaches the Mexican Grand Prix after a race weekend that was, at least in part, complex and somewhat difficult to interpret. It was an event that left even the Maranello engineers and strategists searching for answers, as the data and feedback from the drivers did not always align perfectly. Although the Italian team secured a valuable podium finish, the general feeling within the Ferrari garage is that the full understanding of the car’s dynamic behaviour and its unpredictable reactions on different compounds and track surfaces still eludes them.
Charles Leclerc’s comments on Saturday evening were particularly revealing in this regard. The Monegasque driver openly acknowledged the progress made but was quick to point out that the minor aerodynamic and mechanical updates introduced to the car could not, on their own, justify the marked improvement witnessed on track. This highlights once again how complex and temperamental these modern Formula 1 cars are—machines that often defy simple explanations. Fluctuations in performance, even across consecutive sessions, remain a mystery that continues to challenge both drivers and engineers.
Given this context, the high-altitude Mexican circuit could nonetheless offer another valuable opportunity for Ferrari to extract strong performance and consolidate the gains made in recent races. The technical staff from Maranello always start their weekend analysis with a look back at historical data, using it as a reference point to understand the car’s potential at each venue. It is worth recalling that during last year’s Mexican Grand Prix weekend, Carlos Sainz managed to secure pole position with the Ferrari SF-24. Because of the transitional design philosophy connecting last season’s car to the current SF-25, some of the fundamental strengths and operational traits of the former model should, at least in theory, still be present in this year’s package.
SF-25: the continuing issue with fast corners
From a purely technical point of view, the circuit dedicated to the Rodríguez brothers is renowned for its mixed layout and extreme demands on both engine and chassis. It features several long straights that test top speed and power unit efficiency, alternating with a varied collection of corners that differ in radius, camber, and entry speed. In particular, the second sector of the track is dominated by a sequence of medium to high-speed corners where aerodynamic load plays an absolutely decisive role in maintaining stability and downforce efficiency. The final sector, by contrast, shifts the emphasis towards mechanical grip and traction, as the car must perform well through slower corners and over bumps.
This makes it essential for the Ferrari engineers to find a delicate and well-judged equilibrium between aerodynamic efficiency and mechanical compliance—a technical balance achieved through a series of refined setup compromises. Looking back at the early part of the 2025 Formula 1 season, this very aspect represented one of the main limitations of the SF-25. The car often struggled to maintain a consistent balance when track temperatures or conditions changed. However, the performance displayed at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas seemed to suggest that Ferrari has managed to take a genuine step forward in this regard, expanding the car’s operational window and improving its adaptability to different track types.
Even with that progress, predicting exactly how the Italian car will behave in Mexico remains a complex challenge. The thin air caused by the high altitude of Mexico City has a direct impact on both aerodynamics and cooling, meaning that every small variation in setup can drastically affect tyre wear and downforce levels. It would therefore be unwise to assume that a podium finish will automatically be repeated. What is certain, however, is that both during last season and in the recent race at Austin, Ferrari showed a degree of vulnerability in high-speed corners, where the car tended to lose stability and consistency of grip.
As a result, it is quite likely that the engineers from Maranello will set up the SF-25 to prioritize straight-line speed and traction out of slow corners, characteristics that could prove decisive in fighting against Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes. In a season where marginal gains can make all the difference, these traits could turn into valuable weapons for defending or attacking on track.
Another potential strong point for the Ferrari SF-25 lies in its capacity to handle curb riding efficiently—that is, the ability of the car to absorb the kerbs during cornering without losing balance or traction. This element could prove especially useful in the first sector of the circuit, where precision and stability when running over the kerbs can lead to significant time gains. On the aerodynamic front, it is very likely that Ferrari will once again use the medium-to-high downforce rear configuration that has been adopted in the last two Grands Prix. This setup has now become a central and consistent part of the team’s technical philosophy, offering a good compromise between speed and downforce.
Tyre management remains the decisive factor of the weekend
When it comes to tyres—the second major performance variable of the Mexican weekend—there is still a fundamental question mark hanging over the Scuderia. It is becoming increasingly clear that part of the SF-25’s fluctuating performance from session to session may originate from the car’s inconsistent thermal management of its tyres. Within this context, Ferrari’s challenge will be twofold. In the most technical and twisty sections of the circuit, tyre temperatures on both axles tend to rise quickly, making it difficult for the drivers to maintain the ideal operating window over a race stint.
In contrast, during the final sector, the frequent wheelspin generated during corner exits can cause a dangerous spike in rear tyre temperatures, which leads to accelerated degradation and a loss of traction. At the same time, the long main straights typical of the Mexican layout allow the front tyres to cool down too much, which can result in a sudden imbalance once the car enters the next braking zone. It is a well-known pattern—one that Ferrari has already encountered on several occasions in past seasons.
It is worth remembering that last year, the Italian team struggled significantly to get the front tyres up to temperature at the start of the first sector, a factor that compromised overall performance and limited lap time potential. This challenge has historically been one of Ferrari’s weak spots, particularly on circuits where rapid transitions between slow and fast corners are frequent.
For the upcoming race weekend, therefore, the key to unlocking Ferrari’s potential at the Mexican Grand Prix could very well lie in the team’s ability to master the unstable thermal balance that continues to characterize the SF-25. Finding a way to control temperature fluctuations and prevent the tyres from overheating—or cooling down too much—will be absolutely critical.
In Texas, the team from Maranello managed this aspect admirably, starting already from the Saturday sessions, when both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were able to extract solid performance on both the medium and soft compounds. The progress seen there has given the engineers confidence that the improved tyre management approach can be replicated. The hope now is that those lessons learned at the Circuit of the Americas can be effectively transferred to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Ferrari knows that Mexico represents a unique test for every team, due to its extreme altitude, thin air, and unpredictable track evolution. Engine performance, aerodynamic efficiency, and thermal management all face additional stress under these conditions. For a car like the Ferrari SF-25, which relies heavily on keeping tyre temperatures under control, this race could become a real test of engineering discipline and adaptability.
If Ferrari can maintain the momentum it built in Texas, keep both drivers within the optimal performance window, and manage tyre degradation more consistently than its main rivals, there is every reason to believe that another strong result could be within reach. Yet, as always in Formula 1, success will depend on executing every small detail to perfection.
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