Ferrari's simulations aim to unlock SF-25's full potential ahead of Suzuka

Ferrari will be bringing some updates for the next round of the 2025 Formula 1 championship, but they will not be major technical updates for Suzuka. The first key modifications to the floor will only be seen in Bahrain, where the SF-25 already ran during pre-season testing. For the third race of the season, Loic Serra prefers to discover the true potential of the car: is it the race-winning machine with Lewis Hamilton in the sprint, or the disappointing one from the Chinese GP, where Charles Leclerc finished fifth and the seven-time world champion sixth, before the disgraceful double disqualification?

Maranello is betting on the car’s competitiveness, convinced that the SF-25 has much more potential than what has been seen so far. Over the past few days, both drivers, along with test drivers, have been working on the simulator to determine the correct ride height. If the car can stay low to the ground, it is highly competitive, but if the floor has to be raised a few millimeters to avoid damage to the plank, it suddenly becomes the fourth-best team behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull.

The French technical director has not lost his composure after the disaster in China, focusing instead on finding the key to extracting the best from a car that is very difficult to fine-tune. Simulations have tested various aerodynamic and mechanical setups, searching for the right balance between suspension stiffness and downforce. Suzuka is traditionally a medium-downforce track, but like Shanghai, it has been resurfaced, resulting in a bumpier surface but with more grip than last year.

Pirelli has allocated the three hardest compounds—C1, C2, and C3—since the tires will be subjected to significant lateral and longitudinal stresses, as Suzuka is one of the most demanding tracks for tire wear. Simulations suggest lap times could be up to 1.5 seconds faster than in 2024. This highlights the importance of having done the “homework” properly, unlike in Australia, where Ferrari misjudged its approach to the Melbourne circuit.

At Ferrari’s Racing Department, there is hope for a turnaround. There has been no witch hunt, nor the usual search for a scapegoat to blame for the embarrassing performance in Shanghai. However, it’s clear that this won’t always be the case.

The glaring mistakes are not limited to the technical department. On Instagram, a post about the Japanese GP was deleted after incorrectly stating that F1 had been racing in Suzuka since 1976. The problem? In that year, the race was actually held at Fuji, where James Hunt won the title with McLaren after Niki Lauda chose to retire his Ferrari. The Austrian, along with several other drivers, had honored an agreement that top drivers had made to withdraw if the rain continued to make the race too dangerous. Bernie Ecclestone had insisted the race go ahead as scheduled because, for the first time, an Asian GP was being broadcast live via satellite by Eurovision. Perhaps a young web team member, unfamiliar with history, hadn’t even seen the movie Rush—but forgetting one’s own history is inexcusable…