The Japanese Grand Prix marked a kind of turning point for Ferrari. For the first time, admissions were made that had long been denied. Perhaps in a rather clumsy way. No offense intended, but Lewis Hamilton’s earlier remarks about the SF-25’s ride height had seemed like corporate-style lies to cover up failings that were clear to everyone.
At the Suzuka circuit, the British driver finally admitted that the car runs at heights that do not align with its design concept, a fatal issue for this ground-effect generation, where just a few millimeters of elevation can lead to the loss of significant downforce, since the venturi tunnels that generate ground effect are no longer adequately sealed, severely limiting performance.
Another key point from the Japanese weekend is that the two Ferrari SF-25 cars were run with different setups. Despite the long insistence, coming directly from the drivers themselves, that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had similar driving styles, the cars were configured differently. This is a typical situation when nothing seems to be working, and extreme measures are tried in the hope that something will finally click. A bit like what the seven-time Formula 1 world champion himself did in the Japanese Grand Prix, starting on hard tires and finishing on mediums, a strategy that didn’t pay off and left the Briton stranded in no man’s land.
After the 53 laps of the Japanese Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc called for updates to give a technical jolt to a car that’s not hard to label as disappointing. Lewis Hamilton echoed the same need to change something, so as not to fall too far behind competitors who are already pulling away. But the drivers’ wishes clashed with team principal Frederic Vasseur’s pragmatism, as the Frenchman reverted to expressions many in Maranello had hoped were behind them.
In short, the French executive stated that the Italian side’s technicians and engineers must first fully understand the aerodynamic platform of the car before introducing updates. A new floor is expected to arrive this weekend in Bahrain, at least that was the talk in Ferrari circles and the Italian media in the last two days following the Suzuka race, but Frederic Vasseur’s comments cast doubt on that, suggesting more time may be needed to truly identify where to intervene.
Many also point fingers at the rear suspension, which allegedly fails to manage the extra load generated by this year’s car compared to the 2024 Formula 1 model. That would be a major issue, as modifying that part of the car would require significant financial and technical resources, something Ferrari likely isn’t willing to invest in the final year of the current regulations.
It is more probable that the team under technical director Loic Serra will focus on an updated floor. A new floor to avoid scraping the bottom of the barrel and sinking into an anonymous season, watching others win and celebrate while remaining passive spectators.
Beyond Frederic Vasseur’s cautious approach, the truth is that swift action is needed as those ahead won’t wait. At some point, all teams, Ferrari included, will begin focusing on their 2026 Formula 1 cars. The first to do so will be the one that realizes there’s little left to salvage from this season. The current campaign must be stabilized immediately, and that is why, regardless of recent statements, expectations are high that Ferrari will bring something new at the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. Especially since this venue is the ideal circuit to validate updates, cross-referencing them with data from the winter pre-season testing session.
In short, Bahrain’s layout makes it the perfect stage to introduce corrections. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit , which closes the triple header, certainly does not. The Saudi Arabian track doesn’t allow for proper aerodynamic testing. So, if the new floor is not introduced in Sakhir, the earliest alternative would be Miami, which is another rather aerodynamically unfriendly circuit) or Imola, a venue Ferrari has often used to validate technical upgrades.
Recently, the Ferrari engineers and technicians have seemed a bit lost, technically and in their external messaging. It’s time to tighten ranks and outline a clear strategic plan to determine whether the SF-25 can still have a say in this Formula 1 championship, as reported by F1 expert Diego Catalano for formulacritica
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc probably went in different directions setup-wise in order to collect data for analysis back at the Maranello factory after the Suzuka weekend. But this phase cannot go on indefinitely: the time has come to introduce fixes and at least try to get back on the podium. In the first three races, aside from a flash in the Chinese Sprint Race, Ferrari has been absent: a no-show after the winter promises.
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