Jeddah FP3 data: Ferrari more aggressive with downforce, Mercedes takes a step back. Ferrari is aiming for pole position in Jeddah adapting the aerodynamics of the SF-24.

The Prancing Horse is aiming for pole position in Jeddah, adapting the aerodynamics of the SF-24 to gain valuable speed on the long straights of the Saudi Arabian race track. Scuderia Ferrari surprised the paddock on Thursday, confirming the same configuration used seven days ago in Bahrain, on a track that requires more downforce. However, the tests highlighted a well-balanced Ferrari on Jeddah’s sweeping turns, unlike an unstable Mercedes that opts to return to a more loaded rear wing.

Ferrari gets ready for qualifying

The Italian side took to the track in the third and final free practice session with the same rear wing used on Thursday and in the opening race in Bahrain. What changed is the configuration of the lower beam-wing, switching from a double to a single profile. Ferrari aims to reduce primarily the load and resistance generated by the underbody, aware that the more loaded upper wing will assist in tire management, and the DRS will mitigate the opposing resistance in qualifying.

The Prancing Horse confirms the good balance achieved with the car, with the Reds emerging as one of the fastest in the technical first sector. In addition to the positive results on Thursday, track conditions also influenced the decision, with asphalt offering high levels of grip from the start. The lighter configuration for FP3 was also confirmed on Oliver Bearman’s car, alongside Charles Leclerc’s, but it’s not ruled out that Maranello might decide to load up Oliver Bearman’s SF-24 to instill greater confidence in the driver.

Mercedes stabilizes the rear

The opposite direction is taken by the Brackley team. On Thursday, Mercedes had fitted a new rear wing, significantly lighter than both the Bahrain version and the wing used in Jeddah in the past Grand Prix edition. However, in the final free practice session, both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell reverted to the high-downforce wing, accepting reduced competitiveness on straights to find confidence in the car.

After the first day on the track, both drivers of the German team had complained about the balance of the W15, despite trying different setups. George Russell spoke of a car strongly unstable in high-speed corners, supported by a Lewis Hamilton struggling with a light rear end: “Today I didn’t feel the rear of the car, crucial on a fast track like this.” Mercedes’ choice to load the car’s aerodynamics aligns with the drivers’ requests, hoping it will be enough to contend for the front row.