The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix continued with a challenging second practice session for Ferrari, as the SF-25 again showed a lack of grip on the Yas Marina Circuit. While the team approached the weekend with a solid baseline setup, the persistent issues with rotation were only partially mitigated. On this track, unlike in Qatar, the rotation problem is less limiting, yet still noticeable. Charles Leclerc initially found enough grip on the Soft tyres to stay competitive, but the session highlighted the ongoing difficulties in optimising the car.
Ferrari works on SF-25 setup
Both Ferrari drivers began FP2 using Medium tyres, a compound not previously used on Friday, allowing the team to simulate a qualifying lap while gathering detailed data on car behaviour. Leclerc was first out but aborted his initial lap due to a small error in Turn 1. Shortly after, both drivers went back on track together. Early impressions did not fully confirm the positive handling observed in FP1, as certain corners still required setup adjustments. Turn 6, in particular, remained a critical point for Leclerc, where he lost valuable time compared to Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton had yet to complete a full lap and focused on warming the tyres alongside his teammate. Early runs indicated Ferrari had tried shifting the SF-25’s balance towards the front, but more testing was needed to validate this setup approach. These initial laps were crucial to defining the car’s operating window.
On the Medium tyres, excessive rotation remained evident on corner exits. As seen in FP1, micro-instabilities during directional changes affected traction, forcing drivers to delay throttle application. The first run concluded with both cars returning to the pits for minor front-wing adjustments to better balance the car.
Subsequent laps included frequent radio communications, analyzing every sector that required improvement. Adjustments involved brakes, differential settings, and energy management. Turn 3 continued to be problematic, as optimising the lap demanded sacrificing this sector slightly. Despite these efforts, further progress was clearly necessary.
Ferrari still struggles with tyre activation
After a short break, Leclerc returned on Soft tyres and immediately pushed to the limit. While the lap was relatively clean, oversteer under acceleration persisted. Despite acceptable balance, lap times fell short of expectations. On the radio, Charles confirmed that, as anticipated, pace was lacking.
The communication suggested that tyre performance might play a key role, with insufficient grip limiting improvement. Leclerc returned to the pits for a front-wing adjustment, adding four points to increase responsiveness. Lewis Hamilton faced the same issues and struggled even more to exploit the car’s potential. He too requested front-end adjustments, but they did not have the desired effect. Ferrari race engineer Adami provided a long list of sector-by-sector parameters to address the problems, demonstrating the complexity of managing the SF-25 during the session. If the car had started the session positively, FP2 clearly exposed its limitations.
Radio communications also revealed recurring issues with target tyre temperatures, a problem affecting Ferrari at almost every race this season. The inability to reach optimal temperatures reduced grip and prevented the SF-25 from delivering competitive lap times.
Abu Dhabi GP: Ferrari’s tyre questions remain
Assessing Ferrari’s race pace with full fuel remains challenging. On Medium tyres, the SF-25 did not yet demonstrate its true potential. Both drivers attempted race simulations, and early laps indicated the car’s pace was not disastrous relative to rivals. However, tyre management continues to cast a shadow over performance. If the team can optimise tyre performance in qualifying and race conditions, the situation is manageable. If tyre issues persist, the weekend risks becoming another struggle. With heavier fuel, handling remains acceptable, particularly for Charles Leclerc.
Despite this, both drivers expressed dissatisfaction with the car’s behaviour. The most significant challenge of the day was the third sector: tyres never provided the necessary grip during push laps. Ferrari will need targeted simulator work to correct or at least mitigate one of the SF-25’s most persistent weaknesses.
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