The first day of on-track activity in Melbourne presented a performance picture different from what was seen in the Bahrain tests. A technical hierarchy that still placed McLaren as the favorite, closely followed by Ferrari. Let’s see how the Ferrari SF-25 performed in comparison with McLaren in the acceleration telemetry analysis from FP2 in Melbourne.
Ferrari starts to show itself
After the Bahrain tests, there was a kind of performance alarm regarding the new Ferrari SF-25. Clumsy, inconsistent, and not exactly easy to drive. These statements led much of the media to label the SF-25 as the fourth force. This judgment was mainly based on the raw lap times. However, the reality is different—Ferrari was hiding and disproving much of what the insiders had said. During the tests, the SF-25 displayed various behaviors, including understeering, oversteering, and neutral handling. These traits were accentuated by rapid changes in ballast and significant fuel loads, which aimed at performing “sandbagging.” With rumors and confirmations from Loic Serra and Charles Leclerc, the SF-25 arrived in Melbourne as the big unknown and the most awaited car.
Ferrari SF-25 and McLaren MCL39, what the telemetry says
Source: f1ingenerale
Ferrari and McLaren completed very similar lap times, separated by just over a tenth of a second. The two cars hit the track with slightly different aerodynamic setups, with the SF-25 being more loaded and the MCL39 more aggressive on top speeds. These setups provide advantages on two opposite fronts: qualifying and the race. Ferrari’s car chose the rear wing used in the Bahrain tests, a new configuration for the 2025 season. McLaren, on the other hand, opted for a slightly less loaded wing, “playing” with the beam wing setup with a bit more downforce.
In the telemetry comparison, Ferrari and McLaren reach their performance in a very similar manner. In the first and second sectors, Charles Leclerc comes out ahead, with a slight advantage over Oscar Piastri. Notably, at the braking zone of turn 3, Ferrari’s braking strength is evident, where Charles Leclerc is able to express his strength by delaying the braking point. Despite this, the SF-25 once again proves its strength in acceleration, with enviable traction.
Source: f1ingenerale
This behavior is repeated in the 6-7 transient, where Charles Leclerc carries more speed through the corner and, despite this, the SF-25 remains stable. Additionally, the cornering is excellent, and the Monegasque driver maintains his driving style with the throttle pushed to slide the rear and close the racing line.
The rear end still needs to find its balance, especially in the high-speed 11-12 left-right sequence. The acceleration analysis revealed a rear end that suffered a slight snap, evident from the negative acceleration peaks. This issue is solvable by fine-tuning the mechanical setup.
Source: f1ingenerale
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