Ferrari has confirmed in Formula 1 its excellent performance not only in qualifying but also during long runs. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were the fastest drivers on track with high fuel loads, outpacing Max Verstappen by three tenths of a second. The Ferrari duo completed only three to four laps, raising questions about tire management. More clarity is expected today, and team principal Frédéric Vasseur himself highlighted this aspect.
Ferrari tests both tire compounds
Analyzing the average race pace data, it is evident that the drivers devoted only a small portion of the session to high-fuel simulations. This was due to the difficulty in finding the correct balance during push laps. The fastest car on track was the SF-25, with Ferrari drivers able to lap near the 1:46 mark.
Charles Leclerc proved faster than his teammate thanks to the advantage of the softer compound. However, it is important to note an error by the Monegasque during the third simulation lap (not included in the average times), where he braked too late into turn 4 and ran wide. To reduce braking instability, the team adjusted the brake balance by two points toward the rear.
The C6 compound responded better on the second thermal cycle, after the initial push-lap simulation. The softer tire has higher viscosity, which makes it easier to activate and improves grip. The medium C5 compound, on the other hand, has more elastic resistance and struggles to heat up in a second stint. The short length of these runs does not allow for a full assessment of the likely performance drop of Leclerc’s C6 tires.
For engineers, the absence of this data complicates race strategy planning. Ferrari’s technical team will rely on historical data for these three compounds while considering the low expected degradation. They can also gather additional insights in FP3, the final practice session in Baku.
SF-25 shows zero degradation: Piastri struggles with rear overheating
Alex Albon and Max Verstappen posted similar race pace, about three tenths slower than Leclerc. The Dutch driver’s overall pace was solid, with the gap to the Ferraris mainly due to a conservative approach by the reigning world champion. As observed in tire wear charts, Verstappen achieved one of the best performance drops, alongside George Russell.
Mercedes drivers struggled on high fuel compared to their qualifying pace. Kimi Räikkönen and George Russell lost almost a second per lap to the Ferrari duo during their simulations, using contrasting approaches. Kimi pushed harder early on, suffering immediate tire drop, while the W16 felt very unstable at the front and heavily understeering compared to his teammate.
The Brackley team arrived in Baku with a shortened chord on the last flap of the front wing, which may have affected static front downforce. FP2 was particularly challenging for McLaren. After a strong first session, an error compromised Lando Norris’s run, and Piastri’s unstable rear highlighted a poorly balanced MCL39.
At the end of the session, Oscar Piastri described his car as unable to show the pace it truly possesses. During the race-pace simulation, he was over seven tenths slower than Leclerc, struggling with rising rear temperatures. Continuous rear slides caused tire overheating, limiting overall grip.
Unlike the Ferrari cars, the two papaya-colored McLarens struggled to manage the dirty, lightly rubbered-in track. Ferrari will still need to refine handling, but the minimal degradation data, though requiring more laps for confirmation, provides a strong foundation for team principal Vasseur to build a solid race strategy.
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