Ferrari SF-25 shows potential but needs fine-tuning: Insights from FP1 for F1 Saudi Arabian GP. Ferrari on the Right Track but Still Searching for Stability: FP1 in Jeddah.

Here we are for the fifth weekend of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend begins today in Jeddah, a very fast street circuit with 27 corners to tackle almost flat out. It is an important technical challenge, especially in the first sector, which is selective and where most of the lap time is decided. McLaren is once again the favorite, with the Lando Norris – Oscar Piastri duel heating up, while Verstappen wants to get the most out of his Red Bull. Watch out for Ferrari, looking for answers after updates in Bahrain and aiming for their first podium of the season.

Charles Leclerc had mentioned in Bahrain that the new floor would bear fruit, especially in Saudi Arabia. This is due to two reasons: on one hand, a better understanding of the car’s behavior; on the other, a track like Jeddah that maximizes this type of update. The Monegasque driver appeared confident, emphasizing that the team is on the right path to compete at the top.

The focus remains on the tires, still a weak point that needs resolving. Thermal management and degradation remain the main issues to address. Finding the right tire window could truly make a difference. Lewis Hamilton also drew positive signals from the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite some highs and lows. Some clues from the first race may prove useful, but now consistency is key.

The Briton is aware that the temptation to return to familiar ground will be strong, but he is ready to face the leap into the unknown to find a connection with his new car. Mentality and patience will be crucial. Lewis Hamilton spoke openly about his feelings and his willingness to improve step by step. In Jeddah, he will aim for a deeper connection with his car, beyond just the result.

The circuit features characteristics that could benefit the SF-25: smooth track surface, stiffer suspensions, and the possibility of lowering the car by a few millimeters. After a complicated Bahrain weekend, Ferrari expects better performance from the new floor and a more tangible response in terms of performance. The rear wing has also been slightly revised, with a modification to the DRS profile specifically designed for this layout.

This is not a complete upgrade, but rather a targeted adaptation to reduce aerodynamic drag in specific conditions. Once again, tire management will be key. Ferrari struggled in Sakhir with tire activation, but things might change in Jeddah: less thermal stress and a more favorable energy distribution. The drivers have been working intensively in the simulator on their warm-up strategy, particularly important on a track with long straights that cool the front axle. The Italian side aims to better exploit this operational window, with the goal of bringing a car that is finally balanced and ready to fight.

Now let’s take a detailed look at how events unfolded for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the first free practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In the first run of FP1 in Jeddah, both Ferrari cars hit the track with Medium tires, ideal for consistently checking the car’s behavior. During the outlap, both drivers performed aerodynamic tests with the DRS closed, gathering useful data on drag resistance. The first three laps were completed without interruption, followed by a cooling lap, which provided feedback on how to manage braking better.

Then, Engine mapping 1 was activated to assess the maximum push of the power unit. The initial balance of the SF-25 seemed good but not without issues. There were still signs of instability at the center of the corners, with Charles Leclerc registering a couple of noticeable snaps in corners 13 and 16, caused by a rear end that was not perfectly synchronized with the front.

The heavy traffic complicated the collection of precise data, slowing down the adaptation process. Despite this, the base setup seemed good. Notably, the two SF-25 cars recorded the lowest top speeds among all the top teams. With the switch to Soft tires, the rear end seemed more stable. However, something is still missing to perfect the driving experience. Charles Leclerc made a mistake at the final corner in his last attempt, which left him 70 thousandths behind Pierre Gasly’s best time, although earlier he had used a cleaner line, with a slower overall lap. The Maranello team’s technicians and engineers adjusted the setup by stiffening the suspension, which improved rotation in direction changes but hurt performance in more controlled sections.

The front end is stable, but McLaren’s remains superior. Towards the end of the session, Charles Leclerc simulated a brief race stint, shortly followed by Lewis Hamilton, who opted to complete one more quick lap, the eighth, being half a second behind. The overall behavior of the SF-25 was positive, with Charles Leclerc’s race engineer Bryan Bozzi advising the Monegasque driver not to push too much in corner 14 to avoid excessive thermal stress on the tires.

The rear end with a full fuel load remained slightly unstable and will require further adjustments. Lap times were consistent, between 34.3 and 34.7, with a slight improvement towards the end. Lando Norris with the McLaren was about a second faster, a gap that raises questions about fuel load, with the Briton seemingly running lighter.

— see video above —