Ferrari endured an embarrassing showing during the F1 Sprint Race in Qatar. Both SF-25s lacked pace and exhibited poor balance throughout the session. After the disappointing mini-race, the team hoped to make setup adjustments to partially correct the car’s balance in view of the qualifying session. At the finish, Charles Leclerc ended in tenth place, while Lewis Hamilton had to settle for P18.
Ferrari improves SF-25 handling
The Italian cars entered the pit lane about five minutes before the green light, both fitted with Soft tyres. It was crucial to evaluate whether recent setup changes had brought a more balanced chassis. The team focused heavily on tyre performance, aiming to generate grip from the first corner and maintain it throughout the lap.
Charles Leclerc’s initial run required no steering corrections, and the same applied to the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Both cars initially ran on used red-banded Pirellis before quickly returning to the pits to fit new tyres and adjust the front downforce for better grip.
On the outlap, both drivers pushed hard. Suspension tweaks offered limited improvement: rotation issues persisted, although slightly reduced compared to earlier. Mid-corner stability improved marginally, but the gap remained significant. The cars returned to the pits once more for fresh rubber.
After a brief break, the SF-25s returned to track. The asphalt evolved quickly, making continuous laps essential to collect data while avoiding mistakes. Charles Leclerc’s front end felt more precise, though imperfections remained. Lewis Hamilton continued to struggle, being eliminated in Q1 in 18th position yet again.
Q2: Ferrari makes the cut but remains slow
The exact initial setup of the SF-25 was unclear, making it difficult to know if the team stiffened the chassis to improve directional stability. Charles Leclerc returned with used tyres, confirming previous impressions on the outlap. The mechanics then fitted a new set of Softs, updating the front load with a “plus 2” adjustment.
Charles Leclerc cautiously began his outlap, conserving tyres through Qatar’s high-load corners before pushing for a flying lap. The team seemed to focus on the front wing to add downforce rather than stiffen the front end. Despite improvements, the car remained too front-heavy. After a hybrid system mapping change, the lap secured Q3 qualification, but times were discouraging. Balance improved slightly, but the SF-25 still offered no competitive pace.
Q3: Leclerc pushes, but SF-25 still underperforms
Even at a glance, the lack of rotation persisted. While the balance was less critical, hitting the apex in certain corners remained a challenge. Likely, the team had significantly increased front wing angle to help the car rotate better, yet speed was still lacking.
Charles Leclerc went out for his flying lap, attempting to push the car to the limit. However, as soon as he pushed harder, the SF-25 became nervous. In sector 3, at Turn 15, he lost control, spinning at high speed. It wasn’t oversteer but a rotation deficiency that sent him onto the kerb and caused the spin.
Fortunately, the impact was minor, only hitting a brake marker, and Charles remained calm on the radio, understanding the car couldn’t offer more. After a short pit stop to regain focus, he returned to track on the same set of used red Pirellis.
His next attempt was precise but showed the limitations clearly: he finished almost 1.2 seconds behind Oscar Piastri. The SF-25, though slightly more composed, remained painfully slow. Frustration was evident on the radio, as the car showed no real performance improvement.
Ultimately, Ferrari’s step forward in pace simply did not materialize, leaving Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggling to compete at the front.
Ferrari made the SF-25 marginally more driveable overnight, but they are still miles away from the pace. Sunday’s Grand Prix now looks like damage-limitation rather than a chance for glory. Another long, painful day in the desert awaits the Scuderia.
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