The time to push has arrived: Ferrari in must change pace in the 2025 Formula 1 championship and must do so quickly. Updates are needed in order to correct certain situations and unlock performance. A step to get closer to the performance of the impressive McLaren MCL39 single-seater and consequently be able to at least fight, over the course of the race weekend, with the ambition to contest podiums and victories against the historic Woking team. The same applies to the challenge against Red Bull and Mercedes.
Ferrari is preparing for Imola: we are talking about a substantial aerodynamic update package that wll be introduced by the Maranello technicians and engineers in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which needs a thorough assessment. In the next month, there will be two important turning points. One of these is undoubtedly the Spanish Grand Prix, where the new restrictions regarding flexible wings will come into force, a factor that we will delve into in due time. An aspect that could further compact the group and cause McLaren to take a step back.
An FIA measure that could restrict the very wide operating window of the English car. At the Imola circuit, both the Red team and Red Bull will bring many innovations to address the deficiencies of their respective cars. As for Ferrari, the updates will not arrive in Miami considering the fact that the Florida weekend will take placed based on the sprint format, which foresees only one free practice session, far too short for the Italian side to be able to verify and confirm the validity of the modifications.
On the other hand, we know how complicated it is to validate aerodynamic updates on track. A careful process that must take into account many factors, some of which cannot be reproduced in the wind tunnel. Therefore, it is about moving from subjective judgment to the objective judgment of the track, through data collection that can confirm or not the quality of the work done.
But let’s get to the point, focusing on what the Ferrari engineers and technicians will bring in two Grands Prix at the Imola circuit. From the information gathered so far, the first update for Ferrari will be concentrated in the sidepod area, where we should observe a slimming down. An update that should be part of the plans already foreseen and planned during the winter period. Therefore, we are talking about a “natural development” of the car over the months.
In terms of top speed, the SF-25 single-seater is not bad at all, but obviously more quality is needed in this crucial aspect too, to be able to keep up with the evolution of other cars and further improve. Moreover, it has been learned that a further modification to the floor is coming. This does not automatically mean that the last version should be discarded, but it is clear that some corrections are necessary.
After all, we are talking about a crucial macro component for the correct functioning of the SF-25 car. A nerve center for ground-effect cars where the SF-25 has shown too much sensitivity across the vehicle’s different operating ranges. This element often does not work as it should and does not provide all the expected points of downforce, another issue that Ferrari must improve because the total amount of downforce is lower compared to the rest of the top teams.
Driving instability must be addressed, a problem that has been bothering Ferrari’s drivers. It is especially affecting Lewis Hamilton, who just cannot find clear adaptation to this condition. Charles Leclerc himself spoke about it in front of microphones, stating that the overall vertical load of the Italian car has a deficit that must be filled aerodynamically.
And it is precisely on this aspect that the Monegasque driver focuses, convinced that by reaching the level of load of McLaren and Red Bull, the gap in terms of pace will be closed. And in fact, in Formula 1, it is very important to be able to free oneself from the various problems that limit the car, especially when it comes to the car’s “pure pace.” The opportunities are there; nothing is yet lost for the 2025 Formula 1 racing campaign.
Through the floor, greater and better-distributed downforce must be found. The first version introduced at the Bahrain International Circuit helped in this sense, but it is not enough, as was seen at the 6.174-kilometre Jeddah Corniche Circuit last weekend in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Ferrari also has some strong points, moreover confirmed by Charles Leclerc, such as the tire degradation management of the SF-25, a characteristic inherited from its predecessor. An aspect that remained “hidden” in the early races of the 2025 Formula 1 season due to the “forced extreme setups.”
However, also regarding this tire factor, improvement is needed in the thermal cycle, namely the warm-up process, especially on a flying lap. A step forward in qualifying sessions is required, since we have seen how important it is to start ahead, considering that overtaking phases are often complicated due to turbulent air. The historic Italian team is playing a big part of its future in May; we await to understand what will happen in the next few weeks.
The last news of this article is for now just a hypothesis, on which we will have certainties only next week. It seems that the Maranello team is evaluating the possibility of further delaying the aerodynamic update package for two reasons: to have more time to study it and at the same time to be able to test it directly at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona in Spain, where the new technical directive could significantly change the balance seen in this start of the championship.
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