Ferrari Disaster in Australia, Vasseur Promises: “This Is Not the Real SF-25”

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur defended the work done on the SF-25 after a disappointing performance in Australia, expressing confidence ahead of the next race in China

An absolute disaster. That’s the only way to sum up Ferrari’s opening race of the 2025 season, filled with frustration and disappointment as their car struggled badly in Melbourne. Despite a historically strong record in Australia, the Scuderia endured a crushing setback, both due to the car’s lack of performance and the challenging weather conditions. Now, the only option is to move forward and recover.

The best way to bounce back is to do so quickly. With Australia already in the past, Formula 1 now heads to Shanghai for the second round of a 2025 season that has started in the worst possible way. However, as 2024 has taught us, nothing is decided yet—23 races remain, leaving plenty of points up for grabs. Additionally, McLaren’s missed one-two finish (due to Piastri’s mistake) and the retirement of one Red Bull slightly softened the blow for Ferrari in the standings.

Vasseur’s Promise: “The Real SF-25 Was on Display on Friday, Not Sunday”

The upcoming Chinese Grand Prix is of great importance. Ferrari must not only secure crucial points for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships but also prove the real potential of this year’s car. Shanghai provides a more complete and representative circuit than Melbourne, featuring a mix of slow and fast corners, along with long straights that will put the engine to the test.

Reflecting on the Melbourne race, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur told Sky Sport after the Grand Prix: “Honestly, I don’t think today’s conditions (referring to Sunday’s race)were so true. I believe it’s more important to look at what we did from Friday morning to Q2 rather than focusing solely on today’s results. Even analyzing Verstappen’s lap times, you can see a second’s difference between laps.”

“Questo accade perché appena si surriscaldano le gomme si verifica un forte calo di prestazioni, oppure perché si cerca di preservarle. Penso che il quadro reale sia quello che abbiamo visto venerdì e sabato, ma anche in quel caso la McLaren è un passo avanti. Abbiamo perso un po’ di passo nel Q3 in qualifica e che oggi sia stato un po’ più difficile, ma indubbiamente non è il quadro reale della stagione”. Vedremo se saranno solo parole, o fatti concreti. E solo la pista ci darà questo verdetto.

Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP, F1.com