The first Formula 1 free practice sessions in Nevada offered promising signs for Ferrari. The SF-25 showed a solid setup foundation that still requires careful development. One of the key points focused on by the team was the extensive testing of the Soft tires in FP1, as well as various assessments of corner entry phases to maximize handling performance.
Ferrari: excellent balance with the Medium tires
The first driver to hit the track was Lewis Hamilton, followed by Charles Leclerc a few minutes later. Race engineer Riccardo Adami provided precise instructions regarding battery recharge levels, slightly more aggressive than in FP1, to ensure the drivers could complete two consecutive flying laps without easing off the throttle. The initial phase focused mainly on warming up the front axle, with Hamilton tackling the straights in a zig-zag pattern to manage tire temperatures.
Charles Leclerc followed his teammate, initially showing some inconsistency in the slower sections. The Monegasque struggled to maintain grip in the second sector, receiving continuous feedback to improve the car’s handling. Overall, the team focused on building an optimal lap starting from corner entry phases, with frequent pauses to cool the tires and assess the SF-25’s behavior.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion reported very good sensations, though some minor adjustments were necessary. Charles Leclerc had to work harder to complete an effective lap but eventually found the right feeling with the car. The first session concluded with the drivers in the pits, ready to mount the Soft tires for the second stint with higher track grip.
A competitive and well-balanced SF-25
With the Medium tires, the car’s balance appeared very good, almost optimal. Understeer was minimized by the drivers, and hitting the apex of corners did not pose any particular challenges. Furthermore, compared to the McLaren, the traction phase with the yellow-banded tires seemed better managed, effectively putting power to the ground.
For the second run, Ferrari switched to Pirelli Soft tires. Charles completed a solid first flying lap, making slight steering corrections in some corners to maintain the ideal line. Hamilton, on the other hand, struggled more to extract maximum performance from the tires and was interrupted by a red flag while improving his lap times, which would have placed him among the top positions.
The session highlighted that managing the Soft tires remains a key factor for success in Las Vegas. Radio communications indicated that Charles Leclerc was losing about 0.07 seconds compared to Lando Norris between turns 7 and 9—a minimal and recoverable difference, suggesting there is still room for improvement for the SF-25 in sector 2. The team considered the delay in sector 1 not representative of a true gap, attributing it to an imperfect lap.
Technical issues but confirmation of potential
A few minutes before the end of FP2, the marshals quickly addressed the manhole cover issue at turn 17—or so it seemed. Both Ferraris returned to the track, but after 10 corners Charles experienced a gearbox failure, forcing him to use the escape road while communicating with his engineer from the cockpit.
Lewis Hamilton was also stopped by a second red flag, likely for the same unresolved manhole. As a result, the session ended without a complete test on the Soft tires. Despite this, the overall feedback remains positive: Ferrari confirmed the good balance seen in FP1, with an SF-25 that demonstrated both solidity and potential to compete with the frontrunners.
The Maranello team will need to continue carefully analyzing the collected data, refining the setup, and managing the tires effectively to tackle the Las Vegas weekend. The goal remains clear: to turn these encouraging initial impressions into concrete on-track performance, further fine-tuning corner entry phases and traction under acceleration, aiming to challenge for the top positions in the American race.
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