A stunning behind-the-scenes story has emerged from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya: Ferrari came dangerously close to disqualification at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix
Yes, really — Ferrari was walking a fine line in Barcelona. According to Auto Motor und Sport, during Friday’s practice sessions, the FIA discovered an irregularity on a key component of the SF-25: the front wing’s deflector, which had been updated specifically for the Spanish weekend in light of the new technical directive.
The main reason? The New Flexi-Wing Directive
As announced earlier, the FIA introduced a new technical directive aimed at limiting the flexibility of aerodynamic components, especially front and rear wings. The goal: reduce extreme interpretations and level the playing field across the grid. But that very regulation put Ferrari in trouble.
During technical checks on Friday, FIA officials determined that Ferrari’s new front wing did not comply with the updated standards. Fortunately, the Maranello engineers acted quickly and reworked the component in time for qualifying — making it fully legal and avoiding further consequences.
No Fix? That Would’ve Meant Disqualification
Had Ferrari failed to intervene before parc fermé conditions, the consequences would have been severe: both SF-25s would have started the race with an illegal wing, which would have led to post-race disqualification for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Such a scenario would have sparked yet another wave of criticism surrounding Ferrari’s technical operations.
And the Scuderia is no stranger to recent controversy: back in China, Ferrari suffered a double DSQ due to illegal components on both cars — a historic event marking the first time ever the team retired both cars for technical non-compliance, overshadowing Hamilton’s sprint race victory that weekend.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP
