Chinese GP F1: Ferrari’s suspension setup triggers severe oversteer, deployment still a challenge
The first F1 Sprint qualifying of the season exposed Ferrari’s struggles. Heading into Shanghai, the team was optimistic, believing that the Chinese track would suit the characteristics of the SF-26. However, a race weekend with this particular format is always complex, especially at the dawn of a new era. Let’s analyze the combination of factors that compromised the Scuderia’s session.
Sprint qualifying: Ferrari lacks balance
The problems became evident when the drivers pushed the car to the limit, not before. With only one practice session completed, Ferrari found themselves in significant difficulty. Likely, the preparatory work done at Maranello did not fully reflect the track conditions in Shanghai. This is the first point to consider, especially as the leading SF-26 finished six tenths off pole position.
Still, it’s necessary to make some considerations, as the gap has clear reasons. Some are related to the setup, others to the inherent characteristics of the SF-26, which became evident here in China. By analyzing each lap of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton during the session, a clear picture emerges regarding the car’s handling.
The SF-26 showed significant rear instability. Turns 1-2 form a very fast hairpin where the car is heavily loaded. In this context, Charles Leclerc repeatedly lost rear grip, having to correct without relying solely on the steering wheel. Particularly when exiting the “snail” section, the Ferrari would become unsettled, with the rear losing traction very easily.
The issue continued throughout the lap. On corner exit, from turns 3-4, the Ferrari drivers had to adjust the trajectory because the rear “saturated,” continuously losing adhesion. The rear end was therefore one of the main problems today. The same occurred at turn 6, where Charles Leclerc was seen losing the rear even during the entry phase.
In the fast section of sector 2, a more stable Ferrari was expected, but without a solid rear, no advantage was gained. The root cause of this oversteer lies in the setup, which is far from optimized. The limited FP1 session worked against the team. The suspension setup appears to be the main source of oversteer—something that can be adjusted tomorrow to try to restore balance.
Ferrari SF-26: deployment remains a serious limitation
As we have repeatedly noted in recent days, one of the main issues with the Modena car concerns deployment, meaning the way energy is released during the lap. Even if we expect to see a more composed SF-26 tomorrow, deployment problems will inevitably resurface. This represents a more serious and longer-term challenge to resolve.
Essentially, the Italian car does not release battery energy efficiently and releases it too quickly. Charles Leclerc voiced strong complaints about this. It creates a gap both in absolute terms—the difference with the W17 is evident—and in terms of handling the SF-26. Charles’ words are telling, as he asked, “What is happening?” On the second straight alone, he lost four tenths.
Ferrari: Hamilton and Leclerc ideally on equal footing
Regarding Charles, he suffered the most between the two Ferrari drivers today. He struggled to put everything together when it mattered, on his final SQ3 attempt. Analyzing the drivers’ handling feedback, the Monegasque complained more than Lewis. Looking at the ideal lap table also provides insights.
The actual gap, calculated by summing the best sector times, shows that Charles could have aimed for fifth place. The four tenths lost on the back straight during the final attempt are considered an anomaly. If everything had worked correctly, Ferrari’s drivers would have finished level, just six tenths behind George Russell’s Mercedes.
Leave a Reply