Whether Ferrari can maintain consistent performance at the 21st round of the Formula 1 season remains uncertain. Several factors, including environmental conditions and the Sprint format, make it challenging to predict outcomes, which already might not be entirely positive. Both drivers are confident that a podium is possible if everything goes well. Meanwhile, let’s analyze the first and only free practice session focused on fine-tuning the SF-25.
SF-25: questions over top speed
On the Interlagos asphalt, at least in this initial phase, the sun seems to favor Ferrari, providing a positive mood for the team. This calm start is already a small win for the Scuderia, as both cars hit the track to validate the simulator work completed beforehand. Ferrari chose to begin the day on Hard tyres, aiming to test the base setup developed at the factory.
During the first flying lap, the track condition quickly became evident: grip is still limited, revealing a very “green” circuit. The choice of harder compounds didn’t help in this context, making initial feedback more challenging. Surprisingly, however, grip appeared slightly better than expected—a small positive sign to start the day.
The initial technical focus was on the braking system, aiming to understand how to achieve greater benefits during braking phases without compromising traction on corner exit. After early evaluations, a brief tyre thermal management run followed to keep the rubber within its ideal operating window.
In this phase, Lewis Hamilton appeared slightly more effective than Charles Leclerc, although the Monegasque soon regained the edge over his teammate. Overall, the SF-25 immediately showed a fairly balanced setup, even if it wasn’t flawless in all sections of the track. Certain corners highlighted difficulties in hitting the apex precisely.
It’s important to remember that a slight understeer is part of the car’s inherent DNA and is not unexpected. The real question is how much room there is to adjust ride height. Extracting the car’s remaining potential will also increase available grip in the most demanding corners of the Brazilian circuit.
For now, there are no major obstacles in terms of setup. The team is in the early phase of the program, where data collection is key to refining every detail in upcoming runs. The most notable insight from the first and only practice session concerns the final sector, T3, where the two Ferraris were penalized by around 15 km/h.
This raises questions: is it lower aerodynamic efficiency causing the gap, or is engine power the main factor? The traction in the last corner, which leads directly onto the famous “saida do boxes,” may also play a role, affecting acceleration all the way to the finish line.
Ferrari tests setup for race pace
A quick pit stop allowed engineers to make slight adjustments, possibly touching the car’s ride height and tweaking wing angles to improve aerodynamic efficiency. After the stop, the two cars resumed activity on Engine 1, still using Hard tyres.
Charles Leclerc attempted to complete competitive laps twice, but both runs were compromised by small errors, forcing him to abort the lap. Lewis Hamilton faced a similar situation, choosing to focus on consistent runs simulating race pace rather than attempting a flying lap.
For this reason, the internal combustion engine mapping was set to Engine 4, the mode typically used for a full 300 km stint. During this phase, an interesting technical element appeared: Ferrari applied flow viz on part of the rear wing and the beam wing to further investigate data correlations.
Analyzing race pace in an early practice context is not straightforward. Performance variations from top teams are unclear, and fuel loads are unknown. Nevertheless, some characteristics of the SF-25 emerged: the car shows understeer on corner entry and over-rotation on exit.
These are not excessively penalizing limits but could influence the maximum performance of the package if not managed correctly. Overall, Ferrari appears focused on finding the best interpretation of the Brazilian track, working to refine sensitive areas of the car without showing signs of real concern.
Brazilian GP: qualifying with performance questions
After a brief five-minute break, both Ferraris returned to the track, continuing work on Hard tyres while most rivals pushed on Mediums for flying laps. Understeer remained noticeable during rotation phases. The decision not to use yellow-banded tyres seems more aimed at focusing on setup definition rather than tyre preservation.
Maranello knows how decisive qualifying can be. Even though the SF-25 has potential, it has not yet been fully exploited. Whether it will be remains to be seen.
Neither driver managed a completely clean and competitive lap. Critical areas include corners 9 and 10, where improvements are still possible. As a final curiosity, Hamilton ended the session with a spin in the third sector, fortunately avoiding the barriers. The Sprint qualifying will reveal more about the car’s performance under pressure.
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