Ferrari SF-25 struggles in two key sectors at COTA: Austin Sprint Qualifying analysis

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SSF-25, front wing, 2025 F1

Ferrari once again found itself in an awkward position in Formula 1, struggling with a car that proves difficult to drive on certain parts of the track—sections that make a significant difference in overall performance. This recurring scenario seems almost impossible to fix. The team’s execution during the first part of the weekend was far from ideal, and despite simulator work, there appears to be little hope for a dramatic turnaround during the rest of the Austin weekend..

Small details making a huge difference for Ferrari

Yesterday’s qualifying proved very challenging from a purely technical standpoint. Two teams were exactly on the same level—Red Bull and McLaren. Yet once again, Ferrari lagged behind its competitors, unable to find an effective setup that could limit the SF-25’s numerous flaws and weaknesses.

According to our sources, Ferrari had hoped to be closer to the front, but that did not materialize. The first day of the nineteenth round of the 2025 World Championship was, as often happens, complicated and far from straightforward. Austin is a highly technical track, and having only one practice session made everything even more complex.

This is especially true for a team with a car that is notoriously tricky to set up, where even small factors can compromise the car’s optimal working point. In Texas, precise compromises are required—ones that Ferrari struggled to find. Adding to this, Charles Leclerc lost the final part of Free Practice 1 due to a gearbox issue on car number 16, putting the team at a disadvantage.

On-board analysis shows minimal differences

As usual, we examined all on-board footage from qualifying very carefully. There are no significant differences between Ferrari and its rivals in terms of trajectory. The SF-25 managed to find a decent overall balance, but its performance remained low compared to Red Bull and McLaren.

The final qualifying classification confirms this reality. Sector-by-sector data reveals several reasons for the gap suffered by the Italian cars. In sector one, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were reasonably quick through the first part of the snake, but the gap increased significantly between turns 8 and 9. In this section, Ferrari immediately lost three-tenths of a second to direct rivals.

Along the long straight in sector two, the gap remained steady, indicating that Ferrari’s top speed is competitive with Red Bull and McLaren. There are no teams that stand out in this regard. In sector three, the deficit is concentrated mainly at turn 15, where another two-tenths were lost over just a few meters.

Potential progress remains limited

Overall, Ferrari’s performance losses are highly localized. In theory, with improved balance and sector-specific setup compromises after the Sprint Race, the SF-25 could make significant progress. However, more practice time would be necessary, and tomorrow’s schedule is unlikely to offer a major change to this weekend’s outlook.

A portion of the gap can once again be attributed to tire management. The sector times indicate a slight degradation over the lap, suggesting rear tire overheating. Nevertheless, compared to other circuits, the team handled thermal evolution relatively well.

Neither driver reported complaints over the radio, and they seemed to have found a more efficient compromise between tire performance in the first and final sectors. Last year, achieving this balance was much more difficult. Ultimately, the car’s potential remains, even with limitations imposed by ride height. Perhaps for this reason, Charles Leclerc is not confident that tomorrow will bring a better result than what was seen today.