Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has admitted that resolving the persistent lift and coast problem affecting the team’s performance is now an urgent priority following a disappointing weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix. The issue, which has repeatedly limited both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton throughout the 2025 Formula 1 season, once again proved costly for the Maranello-based team at the Marina Bay Circuit.
During the race, Leclerc was once again instructed to lift and coast — a fuel and brake management technique where drivers lift off the throttle well before entering a corner to reduce heat and stress on the braking system. While commonly used in small doses across a race, Ferrari’s frequent reliance on it has raised questions about the car’s brake cooling and efficiency. The Monegasque driver has had to apply this method in several Grands Prix this year, signalling a deeper mechanical or aerodynamic imbalance within the SF-25.
Vasseur acknowledged that the issue had become a serious performance constraint, stressing that Ferrari could not realistically battle at the front unless the problem was solved immediately. The Frenchman made it clear that the team’s hopes of securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship depend on fixing the recurring brake management difficulties that have undermined their race pace since mid-season.
According to reports from RacingNews365 and other Formula 1 outlets, Vasseur told the media that the team’s engineers were already investigating the cause of the problem, recognising that continuing to run in this condition would make it impossible to compete for podiums. He explained that addressing the braking performance and heat management of the SF-25 was now a race-against-time priority before the next Grand Prix, hinting that without a swift solution, Ferrari’s season could continue to unravel.
The Singapore Grand Prix ended in disappointment for both Ferrari drivers. Charles Leclerc could manage only sixth place after being forced to conserve his brakes throughout the race, while Lewis Hamilton suffered a late brake failure that dropped him to eighth in the final classification. The result marked a stark contrast to Ferrari’s triumph at the same circuit just two years earlier, when the Scuderia celebrated victory under the Marina Bay lights.
When analysing Ferrari’s race pace compared to front-runners such as Red Bull and McLaren, Fred Vasseur admitted that it was difficult to make a direct comparison. He noted that while Leclerc initially managed to stay within striking distance of the leaders, the need to immediately employ lift and coast strategies from the early laps compromised their performance window. Once those instructions began, Ferrari lost consistency in braking performance and corner entry balance — factors that directly influenced lap time and tyre wear.
Fred Vasseur elaborated that the unpredictable braking zones forced Leclerc to continually adapt his driving style throughout the race. The varying brake balance — switching between front and rear to compensate for overheating — disrupted the car’s rhythm and made it impossible for the driver to attack corners confidently. This constant adjustment, he explained, not only costs time down the straights but also disturbs overall race flow and prevents the driver from finding a stable operating window.
Technical sources close to Ferrari suggest that the issue may stem from the SF-25’s compact brake disc design, which was developed to improve aerodynamic flow around the front suspension and wheel assembly. While beneficial in terms of reducing drag and enhancing airflow efficiency, this smaller brake setup has left the team vulnerable on circuits that demand high braking energy, such as Singapore and Monza. Combined with extreme humidity and heat in Marina Bay, the cooling limitations likely pushed the system beyond its safe threshold.
Ferrari engineers are now expected to bring new brake duct configurations and revised cooling elements to the next races in Austin and Mexico in an attempt to regain control over temperature management. The team is also studying data from Lewis Hamilton’s late-race failure, as the issue could point to a broader reliability concern that extends beyond heat and wear — possibly affecting hydraulic pressure and brake-by-wire performance.
As Ferrari prepares for the remaining rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season, Fred Vasseur’s demand for swift corrective measures underlines how crucial it is for the team to stabilise its technical package before the regulations reset in 2026. For Leclerc and Hamilton, the goal will be to regain the confidence to push the SF-25 closer to its limits without the constant shadow of brake management strategies undermining their race pace.
After Singapore, the general sentiment in Maranello is clear — Ferrari cannot afford another weekend dictated by lift and coast instructions. If the issue persists, the team risks falling further behind Mercedes in the standings, a scenario that would intensify scrutiny on Vasseur’s leadership during a season already full of missed opportunities.
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