Ferrari Upgrades Under Scrutiny as Leclerc and Hamilton Struggle in Austrian GP Practice
Ferrari’s performance during Friday practice at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix left plenty of questions, as both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton failed to impress despite a comprehensive upgrade package introduced at the Red Bull Ring. Leclerc could only manage P5 in FP2, while Lewis Hamilton trailed even further back in 10th position, compounding a difficult day for the Scuderia.
The Maranello team’s pace deficit was glaring, with the Monegasque driver lapping 0.610s slower than McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who topped the timesheets. Lewis Hamilton fared no better, clocking in 0.931s behind the session leader in FP2 after an earlier P9 finish in FP1, where he trailed George Russell’s Mercedes by 0.557s. Ferrari’s reliability issues also returned to the spotlight, as the Briton spent part of the first session in the garage due to a gearbox concern. Meanwhile, junior driver Dino Beganovic, filling Ferrari’s rookie session requirement, ended FP1 in 18th place after his own mechanical troubles.
Charles Leclerc didn’t find consistency when he returned to the cockpit in FP2, suffering multiple off-track excursions at Turn 3 and Turn 6. Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson observed that Ferrari appeared to be facing a broader issue, speculating that there may be an underlying problem with the SF-25’s setup or balance.
Gary Anderson Raises Doubts Over Effectiveness of Ferrari’s New Floor and Diffuser
The Austrian Grand Prix marked a crucial moment for Ferrari’s development path, with the team introducing the most extensive upgrade package of any constructor on the grid. Central to this were changes to the SF-25’s floor edge, floor fences, and body, along with a reworked rear diffuser. The goal was to increase underfloor downforce and enable the car to run lower to the ground—an area that has repeatedly caused problems for Ferrari throughout the season.
Technical analyst and former F1 engineer Gary Anderson shared his thoughts on the Scuderia’s updates, suggesting they could represent meaningful progress. However, he warned that the team must avoid the temptation to lower the ride height too aggressively, noting that the benefits could be negated by excessive wear or compromised balance. Anderson questioned how substantial the improvement would be, stating that the true impact of the modifications remained uncertain until the team struck the right setup balance.
Ride Height Still a Key Weakness for Ferrari’s SF-25 as Time Loss Mounts
The ride height issue continues to plague Ferrari’s 2025 campaign. Charles Leclerc has reportedly lost up to 15 seconds per race due to adjustments made to preserve the legality of the rear skid plank. This weakness was starkly highlighted at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year, where the Briton was disqualified—alongside his Maranello teammate—in what became Ferrari’s first-ever double disqualification.
Stewards found Lewis Hamilton’s car running too low, with measurements of the plank showing excessive wear—recorded at 8.6mm and 8.5mm in three spots, under the required minimum of 9mm. The issue forced Ferrari to raise the car’s ride height significantly in subsequent races, compromising performance to preserve compliance.
In response, the Maranello-based team has continued refining the SF-25’s suspension and aero platform. Chassis Technical Director Loïc Serra is currently overseeing the final stages of Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade, aiming to improve the car’s handling predictability while maintaining a stable ride height.
Despite the scale of upgrades and development work, Friday’s sessions at the Red Bull Ring left Ferrari with more questions than answers—particularly as both of their star drivers were outpaced by rivals and hampered by ongoing setup challenges.
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