“We’ve taken a unique path that I like. If we proceed down this path, I hope we’ll get our first podium.” On the eve of the fifth spherical of the 2025 Formulation 1 season, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc didn’t cover a contact of optimism for a race that, on paper, ought to have suited the SF-25 single-seater higher however may even have uncovered sure limitations of the automobile.
Trying again, Ferrari leaves the 6.174-kilometre Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia with two interlinked takeaways: the primary podium of the season supplied a morale increase to a Maranello group that wanted and needed to ship a sign, whereas additionally highlighting that the highway again to persistently being on the prime remains to be lengthy, and relies on the upcoming aerodynamic updates.
The qualifying session on Saturday confirmed a Ferrari because the fourth-best group, whose lack of aerodynamic load interprets right into a shortfall in efficiency when it comes time to take advantage of the automobile’s full potential. Within the race, nonetheless, the Prancing Horse got here to life, as already seen final week in Bahrain earlier than the Security Automotive, shocking even Ferrari itself.
On the finish of the race, Ferrari group principal Frédéric Vasseur defined that he didn’t have a transparent clarification for the way and why the SF-25 carried out so properly within the remaining part of the primary stint on medium tires, however he additionally careworn that the actual anomaly lies within the efficiency hole between qualifying and the race, figuring out single-lap tempo as one of many areas to enhance with a purpose to begin additional up the grid.
Beginning fourth behind George Russell had a big impression on the tempo Charles Leclerc maintained within the first a part of the race, however in a way, it was additionally the important thing that allowed for competitiveness within the remaining a part of the stint. With out sufficient of a delta to overhaul on observe, Charles Leclerc properly saved his distance within the first twenty laps, avoiding staying within the soiled air. This had two results: the Monegasque driver needed to adapt to George Russell’s tempo, lapping on common about six tenths slower than the main duo. Not surprisingly, within the 17 laps between the tip of the Security Automotive and the Briton’s pit cease, Charles Leclerc gathered over 11 seconds of hole to Max Verstappen.
Nevertheless, as soon as George Russell pitted, giving him clear air to run in, Charles Leclerc unleashed his tempo, decreasing lap instances with a development that even shocked Ferrari, permitting them to increase the stint — an element that turned out to be essential in warding off Lando Norris’s comeback.
The attention-grabbing facet is knowing the place that clear tempo enchancment got here from and the way it ought to be interpreted inside a broader race evaluation. Probably the most pure reply is that this time evolution got here from pushing extra within the corners, with the notice that he may enhance the tempo with out the danger of closing the hole and ending up once more in soiled air, which might have compromised the tires.
The practically six tenths common hole gathered within the first twenty laps got here from having maintained a considerably slower cornering tempo, with far more cautious throttle administration and, consequently, much less stress on the tires — each from diminished sliding and from decrease masses. This may also be seen when analyzing the telemetry information and evaluating it with that of Max Verstappen, which reveals not solely what has already talked about but additionally that the Ferrari SF-25 automobile was noticeably more practical on the straights, with peaks as much as 10 kilometers per hour increased; a delta due each to aerodynamic decisions and a unique use of engine mapping.
Though prime speeds are a energy of the automobile, it’s important to have a look at this information extra broadly: gaining time on the straights means the time misplaced in corners was above common per lap, additional decreasing tire stress. This broader view helps clarify Charles Leclerc’s development throughout the first stint as soon as he had clear air, displaying a clearly superior tempo in comparison with George Russell as much as that time, confirming that Ferrari nonetheless had efficiency margin.
With out the Mercedes W16 automobile forward, Charles Leclerc’s tempo on mediums would have been extra “balanced” and constant all through the stint, however we’d not have seen that rhythm leap that in the end outlined his efficiency — although it doesn’t take away from how robust Charles Leclerc’s lap instances have been throughout that part. Trying on the lap instances, in truth, Charles Leclerc was virtually capable of match Lando Norris’s tempo throughout that clean-air part, which confirms how stable the Monegasque’s tempo was, even when, as Pirelli confirmed, the efficiency hole between medium and onerous was small. Furthermore, Lando Norris needed to push onerous on the hards earlier on to make his comeback work.
Certainly, the unknown within the equation — or maybe extra precisely, the anomaly — was Mercedes, which collapsed as a result of difficulties managing temperatures and thermal degradation, even triggering blistering, a phenomenon not often seen on a low-degradation observe like Jeddah, the place the principle threat has all the time been graining. That is additionally proven by the interior comparability at Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli was certainly quicker than his teammate within the remaining part of the race, however lapped 7–8 tenths slower per lap than George Russell within the first a part of the second stint. A trade-off that confirms how totally different stint administration may shift values.
These laps in clear air proved elementary for Charles Leclerc, as they allowed him to increase the stint past preliminary forecasts, aligning with Lando Norris whereas additionally making a nine-lap delta over the Max Verstappen – Oscar Piastri duo.
This primary podium of the 2025 Formulation 1 season is actually not the dream outcome the Italian facet was aiming for, however it’s an encouraging first step — additionally helpful to “unlock” a stat that was starting to weigh. The SF-25 is an environment friendly automobile, however one that also suffers from an absence of downforce: a shortcoming that reveals up notably within the qualifying session, the place Ferrari has proven the best difficulties, counting on a Charles Leclerc usually driving on the restrict.
Progress inevitably relies on including “balanced” downforce, which ought to present a efficiency soar each in qualifying and the race. However it’s now clear that, to make the leap — not simply in remoted circumstances, in a broader image that may even apply to Crimson Bull — working solely on setup is not sufficient, because the Monegasque is already extracting the utmost from it. One thing extra concrete is subsequently wanted.
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