Singapore GP FP2 review: Ferrari struggles with instability as SF-25 oversteers on the Medium tires. Ferrari struggles with SF-25 instability during FP2 at the Singapore GP.

SF-25 oversteers on the Medium tires

Both Ferrari drivers prepared to hit the track, and shortly after the session began, they were both on track. The SF-25s were running the Pirelli yellow-band Medium tires for the first time—a compound offering a good level of grip, effectively the same as last season’s Soft tires. Tire warm-up was carefully monitored before the drivers committed to full-attack laps.

Lewis Hamilton’s first attempt was not ideal: he lifted off the throttle in the first sector, signaling that the tires were not yet within the optimal temperature window. The seven-time world champion opted to enter the first sector slightly below the ideal temperature to maximize traction in the following sections. Charles Leclerc, in contrast, focused on more consistent tire management, although his lap time remained off the pace of the session leaders.

Hamilton’s car appeared more nervous on the steering, requiring constant corrections to position the car properly in corners. His radio relayed complaints about clear oversteer. After his initial run, the British driver returned to the pits for a small front wing adjustment. Meanwhile, Leclerc continued on track, aiming to put together a clean lap with a more consistent pace.

Leclerc’s attempt, however, was hampered by traffic. Even though other drivers moved aside correctly, his racing lines were disrupted. Hamilton, on the other hand, managed to set a competitive time despite an imperfect lap. For Leclerc’s car, the section between turns 8 and 13 remained challenging, particularly during acceleration, prompting him to request an additional two clicks of front downforce.

Data analysis showed that Hamilton’s car suffered from pronounced oversteer from mid-corner onwards. It is possible, though not yet confirmed, that Ferrari opted for a slightly front-biased setup for him, which could explain the increased rear instability compared to FP1 and the difficulty in keeping the car stable on corner exit.

Ferrari faces a complicated setup direction

The first stint for both Ferraris was interrupted by George Russell’s collision with the barriers. Although Russell managed to restart, the marshals had to clean debris from the track, causing a brief stoppage. Minutes later, the SF-25s returned to Marina Bay to test the effectiveness of minor setup changes, coinciding with another red flag.

This time, the interruption was caused by Lawson running off track in the Racing Bull. Both Ferrari drivers returned to the pits, planning to switch to Soft tires for the next run. Leclerc’s radio communication stood out, as he expressed doubts about the team’s compromise in setup. He had wanted to complete an additional lap on Medium tires but didn’t get the chance.

As expected, the second practice session proved most indicative of qualifying performance, given the track and weather conditions closely resembling race day. Leclerc’s radio message highlighted that Ferrari is still searching for the optimal setup direction—a crucial decision for extracting the maximum potential from the SF-25.

Leclerc risks a penalty and the SF-25 struggles at night

At the start of the third run, Leclerc’s mechanics allowed him to leave the pits without noticing Lando Norris approaching, resulting in contact that damaged the front wing of the MCL39. The incident appears to be an unsafe release by Ferrari, which, if confirmed by the stewards, could lead to a grid penalty for Charles. Both SF-25s returned to track with a fresh set of Soft tires.

Despite the new tires, the Maranello cars continued to show instability, particularly in mid-corner sections. Hamilton made a noticeable mistake costing at least three-tenths of a second, as noted by his race engineer via radio. Leclerc avoided major errors, but the mechanical grip of his car remained insufficient. A curious detail emerged: car number 16 had its brake balance set at 60, an unusually high value.

This advanced setting may have been adopted to protect the rear end. Turn 13 remained a weak point for Charles, who struggled during downshifts. Hamilton also struggled to find stability, leaving the overall picture complicated. Ferrari continues to show difficulty adapting to evening conditions, and tire management once again remains the primary enigma.