The Qatar GP has proven a bitter weekend for Ferrari so far, with the Sprint qualifying exposing all the limits of an at times embarrassing SF-25. Lack of rotation, instability, and various handling issues have plagued the team. The Italian side needed three practice sessions just to field a somewhat decent car. In today’s Sprint, Lewis Hamilton recovered up to 17th place, while Charles Leclerc finished 13th. Here’s how it unfolded.
Troubled start for Leclerc as he loses positions in the opening corners
Ferrari drivers were already seated in the cockpit when final instructions arrived from the pit wall: just moments before the Sprint began, last-minute setup tweaks were completed for a mini-race that represented yet another attempt to extract performance from a problematic SF-25. All that remained was to wait for the lights to go out, while the main task during the formation lap became properly heating the Pirelli medium tyres.
When the lights went out, Charles managed a clean start, but he quickly dropped four positions in Sector 1. The rear of the car once again offered little support, preventing him from maintaining stability on corner entry and through the bends, forcing constant corrections. His radio frustration came as no surprise: with these tyres, the Ferrari provides almost no confidence. Unfortunately, nothing changed throughout the race.
Hamilton, on the other hand, opted for a different approach. Starting from the pit lane, the mechanics were able to tweak the car setup. The move, however, did not pay off, because although he managed to pass two rivals by the second lap, pace and stability remained poor. The SF-25 remained highly problematic, requiring repeated guidance on corner entry, differential, and braking, yet these adjustments changed nothing.
SF-25 shows lack of pace and stability: Ferrari’s performance underwhelming
Ferrari engineers suggested various solutions to improve handling. For Charles Leclerc, focus was on precise management of corner entry speeds to avoid worsening the car’s balance. The differential was adjusted to smooth transitions through both the middle of the corner and braking zones. For Lewis Hamilton, additional attention was given to the braking system, crucial for corner entry.
By mid-race, both Ferraris held position without gaining any meaningful pace. The 100-kilometre stint highlighted the current limitations of the Italian cars. Charles Leclerc attempted to close on Oliver Bearman’s Haas but found no overtaking opportunity, while Lewis Hamilton could not catch Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin. Charles continued to struggle, weaving on track, briefly losing a position to Liam Lawson before regaining it the following lap.
Leclerc eventually stabilized in 13th, but the situation remained difficult. The seven-time world champion continued chasing Stroll but could not get into slipstream. Both SF-25s displayed clear handling issues. Various tests were attempted to reduce the rotation deficit, including adjustments to engine braking and managing oversteer in the third phase of the corner. Unsurprisingly, none of these moves produced results.
The only small gain came when Stroll pitted, allowing Lewis Hamilton to move up to 17th. In the final laps, nothing changed: any intervention on the car failed to improve performance. The Sprint Race ended with disappointing results, leaving Ferrari with significant work to do before qualifying to address the clearly problematic SF-25.
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