Ferrari continues to push forward with determination and confidence. As Formula 1 arrives at round 18 of the 2025 season, the Maranello team knows very well it faces a crucial challenge at the Singapore Grand Prix. For this race, the Ferrari engineers and technicians have developed what can be described as a battle plan, a carefully studied approach aimed at maximizing its chances of competing against the toughest rivals on the grid. The key ingredients are a precise car setup, flawless tyre management, and the ability to adapt quickly to the unique conditions of the Marina Bay street circuit.
The Marina Bay track is known as one of the most demanding venues on the Formula 1 calendar. The combination of high humidity, extremely warm air and track temperatures, and the constant stop-and-go nature of the layout makes it a real test for both drivers and cars. For Ferrari, this round could represent an opportunity. If the setup is dialed in correctly and tyre management is executed to perfection, the team might find that Singapore offers a competitive platform compared to other recent races. However, without careful execution, the chance of success will quickly vanish.
SF-25, the crucial element without which everything will fail
The first and perhaps most important subject for Ferrari at Singapore is tyre management. This has been the Scuderia’s weak spot throughout the entire season and has consistently limited the performance of the SF-25 single-seater. It is not just a minor detail but a structural issue of project 677, which has shown clear limitations when it comes to extracting performance from the Pirelli compounds. If Ferrari fails to handle this aspect correctly in Singapore, all other strategies will become irrelevant.
The performance of the SF-25 depends heavily on avoiding rear tyre overheating. This phenomenon is particularly dangerous at Marina Bay, where the layout features many acceleration zones that place continuous stress on the rear tyres. The already high temperatures of Singapore, combined with the thermal load generated by the track itself, make this a recipe for rapid degradation. If Ferrari cannot control this factor, the car’s race pace will suffer dramatically.
During the race, grid position will be of the utmost importance. The Singapore Grand Prix is notorious for its difficulty when it comes to overtaking, so whatever position Ferrari achieves in qualifying must be defended at all costs. That means getting the tyres up to the correct temperature window quickly is a priority for Saturday. A strong start from the first few rows of the grid is essential for Sunday’s event, because once the race settles, the chances to gain positions on track are extremely limited.
History also provides a warning. In the 2024 edition of the Singapore race, Ferrari encountered serious difficulties. Charles Leclerc was sent out with the wrong tyre temperatures after a problem with the tyre blankets, a mistake that ruined his weekend. The Monegasque driver never recovered, and his number 16 car was compromised from the very start. That incident serves as a reminder of just how unforgiving Singapore can be when it comes to tyre management and preparation.
The two elements Ferrari must exploit
So, can the Singapore track offer Ferrari an opportunity to shine? The answer is yes, but only if every part of the plan works as expected. This is in stark contrast to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, another city circuit, where Ferrari was expected to perform well but ultimately failed to deliver. Despite high confidence, Frédéric Vasseur’s team was unable to find the correct working window for the SF-25, and the result was another missed chance.
The reasons for those struggles are well known. Once again, the problem revolved around the tyres. In Baku, neither the Soft C6 nor the Medium C5 compounds worked properly in qualifying. As a result, Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q2, and Charles Leclerc suffered a crash into the barriers during Q3. That combination left Ferrari with a deeply disappointing outcome. It was a weekend that showed how much of Ferrari’s season has been compromised by tyre issues.
However, Singapore might play out differently. One reason is that the extreme heat and humidity at Marina Bay tend to put more stress on cars that rely heavily on aerodynamic efficiency, such as Red Bull, and on those with more rigid mechanical setups, like Mercedes. This could give Ferrari a natural advantage, provided the team manages its own limitations carefully. The setup will also play a crucial role. At Singapore, traction phases out of slow corners are decisive, and shifting more load to the rear of the car could help Ferrari maximize grip and protect the tyres better than it has at other circuits.
Mechanics and ride height: why the SF-25 has reasons to believe
One of the defining characteristics of Singapore is that the cornering speeds are generally lower compared to high-speed circuits like Silverstone or Suzuka. This increases the importance of mechanical grip over aerodynamic efficiency. For Ferrari, this is a positive scenario. The SF-25 has already shown in Monaco that it performs better in conditions where mechanical grip is critical and where precision in slow-speed corners matters more than sheer downforce.
Raising the rear ride height is another adjustment that could benefit Ferrari in Singapore. By running slightly higher off the ground, the car becomes less dependent on the floor for generating downforce. While this does reduce the maximum potential of ground effect, it can actually make the car more consistent in tricky conditions and less sensitive to bumps and kerbs, which are frequent in Singapore’s street layout. This type of setup adjustment could be a decisive factor in improving Ferrari’s race pace.
A ride height that is less close to the reference plane produces downforce in a way that depends less on the car’s floor. That reduces the risk of the car becoming unstable and allows for more reliable performance. Ferrari must use this to its advantage to position itself as one of the strongest teams behind McLaren. The goal is to establish itself as the clear second force on the grid in Singapore. It will not be easy—Mercedes and Red Bull are still dangerous rivals—but the opportunity is real.
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