At the start of the year, Ferrari seemed just a heartbeat away. Now, the verdict is clear: McLaren is far ahead of the SF-25.
On the simulator, it looked like a done deal: Ferrari’s SF-25 just a tenth behind McLaren. That hopeful promise, reported today by autoracer.it, had sparked excitement in the Ferrari garage and among the Tifosi in recent weeks. But the season opener painted a very different picture — as is often the case, the track told a harsher truth.
The main issue? The rear suspension setup is too soft, which has thrown off the entire balance of the car. The plank underneath has worn out excessively, drastically reducing aerodynamic load — a critical element for grip and cornering speed. Simply put: less downforce, less performance.
Despite that, there’s no visible tension in the Ferrari camp. Still, disappointment hangs in the air. The team had high hopes for this car, expecting it to finally battle at the front. Engineers are now working on a targeted update package to get things back on track.
Updates Coming in Bahrain: A New Beginning?
All eyes are now on Bahrain, where the first upgrades will be introduced. Antonio Giovinazzi has already tested them on the Maranello simulator — though it’s unclear what the feedback was.
Could this be the start of a turnaround after a dismal opening triple-header? Leclerc and Hamilton certainly hope so. This SF-25 is too bad to be true — and the Prancing Horse can’t settle for being the fourth-best team.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP
