Finally, here we are. The Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix weekend is set to take place at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, as the TD018 technical directive comes into effect and Ferrari has high expectations. Hope that might not be rewarded, since every time we have seen an in-season change it has never gone well for the Prancing Horse. Otherwise, we are talking about a very peculiar track where compromises are different and the interaction between aerodynamics and mechanics will be decisive.
The Prancing Horse’s technicians and engineers are aware they have to limit the weaknesses of the SF-25 single-seater. The Maranello team arrives at Montmeló after concluding a good weekend in the Monaco Principality. However, it is crucial to remember that Monte Carlo is a track apart, requiring a radical setup, different and free from the need to seek the usual compromises mentioned above. In Monaco, in fact, there was the possibility to do well despite the difficulties suffered by the Italian car in terms of qualifying performance.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed it: the SF-25 does not easily allow finding the right balance of the car when it has to simultaneously optimize fast and slow corners. Last weekend on the streets of Monte Carlo this scenario did not appear, but in Catalonia, on the contrary, the central challenge of the weekend is precisely this. Ferrari needs an extra effort to improve efficiency related to setup.
In some previous rounds, especially the Chinese Grand Prix, the Maranello team’s car showed a more competitive configuration. That is why we can trust that the team knows how to react even in these circumstances. At the same time, it is also true that the Italian team has often been forced to adopt an overly extreme setup, necessary to cover various technical shortcomings.
The SF-25 car suffers a downforce deficit at all speeds. Charles Leclerc has said this several times, emphasizing that the wing not optimized for low speeds makes the car less competitive in the more technical sectors compared to other cars, although traction is not a problem. This dynamic will test the ability to find the right compromise, a decisive element for tackling the Barcelona circuit.
Another critical issue for the Ferrari engineers and technicians concerns the thermal management of the tires. This coming weekend, the difficulty in controlling the temperature inside the compound represents an important challenge for all teams, so therefore also for rivals McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes. In the race, the SF-25 struggles to stabilize the internal tire temperatures, a condition that could negatively impact overall performance.
In qualifying, managing the compound on a flying lap could be equally problematic: warming up the tires should not be an issue, while keeping them in the correct window throughout the lap will not be easy at all. Regarding surface temperature, Ferrari seems to be able to control it quite well compared to some competitors, especially over the 300 kilometer distance.
However, at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona the internal temperature will matter more. Managing this important element will make a big difference. That is why the work on Friday’s free practice sessions will be very important, when we will have the first and possible confirmation of what has been said. The basic setup characterized by insufficient vertical load produces a baseline gap that the Prancing Horse must inevitably deal with.
For this reason, the historic team’s strategy must focus on a setup oriented mainly towards the race, capable of improving the thermal management of all types of compounds. Building a setup to optimize the car on two fronts: aerodynamic stability and thermal efficiency, a fundamental aspect to try to close the gap with the front runners, on a track that puts every configuration to a tough test.
Leave a Reply