Ferrari’s setup issues and the 7-tenth gap at Zandvoort explained by Fred Vasseur | F1 Monza GP. Ahead of the F1 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur explains the setup challenges of the SF-25.

F1 | Italian GP: The Ferrari Struggles Explained – team boss Frédéric Vasseur Breaks Down the “7 Tenths” in the Dutch GP

On the eve of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Frédéric Vasseur revisits the setup issues that affected the Ferrari SF-25 and the infamous “7-tenths” gap from Zandvoort.

Ride heights, operating windows, setup problems: Ferrari is gearing up for the Italian GP after a tough lesson in the Netherlands, with insights from Frédéric Vasseur. The Scuderia team principal analyzed the Zandvoort weekend, where the SF-25 suffered due to a flawed approach. The difficulties began as early as Friday, and the “7-tenths” deficit to McLaren has a very specific cause.

The Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort did not catch the Maranello team by surprise. On paper, the Netherlands circuit does not fully suit the characteristics of the SF-25. In contrast, McLaren was able to unleash the full potential of the MCL39, delivering a performance that was nothing short of dominant. But at Monza, everything changes again, and Ferrari is well prepared.

Fred Vasseur: “It’s All About the Small Details”

At Monza, the Maranello team principal spoke to journalists, including F1inGenerale.com reporters: “Today, we operate in a very sensitive window,” began Frédéric Vasseur, explaining the causes behind the Dutch debacle. “Small changes make a big difference in performance. We saw it at Zandvoort, between FP1 and FP2, and during the race. Sometimes half a tenth becomes half a second.”

“This applies to us, but also to McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes. In Budapest, McLaren was half a second faster than everyone in Q2, and then in Q3 they lost time just like the others. It means we have to monitor every detail, because the impact on the result is huge.” – the French manager pointed out.

Fred Vasseur then clarified what made Friday practice particularly challenging: “It was a mix. You have to find the right setup, the correct pressures, and everything must be connected to the track’s characteristics. It’s no secret: at Zandvoort, we lost 6-7 tenths in just two corners. It’s a circuit with very high- and very low-speed turns, and that’s where we struggled. We improved on Saturday, but we were still starting from a disadvantage.” – the Ferrari team boss concluded.