Seeing a Ferrari like this in Method 1 is painful. One can not say in any other case when expectations had been fairly totally different. On this telemetry evaluation of the crimson automotive, we may even embrace knowledge from Kimi Antonelli. The efficiency of the Italian will assist us perceive the present type of the Maranello-based automotive. Let’s begin by saying that Kimi Antonelli has supplied one other clear and unmistakable sign: he doesn’t drive to make an look, however to make a distinction.
The Italian rookie drove a virtually good race, ending in sixth place and scoring essential factors for the group. However that’s not all: with the quickest lap within the race and 9 laps within the lead, he broke two data that belonged to a sure Max Verstappen, turning into the youngest driver to guide an F1 race and to set the quickest lap.
The efficiency was constructed on stable foundations: an extremely lengthy 30-lap stint on the medium tires, the longest on the grid, managed with disarming consistency. After Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, in truth, Kimi Antonelli was the third quickest within the first a part of the race, with a median lap time of 1.33.669 and a finest lap even recorded on lap 28, displaying that the degradation on his W16 single-seater was virtually zero.
After the one pit cease of the race, the pattern was confirmed: the Mercedes driver was the quickest on monitor within the second stint, setting the quickest lap on lap 50, earlier than ending his race simply over a second behind his teammate. Sadly, the identical can’t be mentioned for automotive quantity 44. After a stable first a part of the race, Lewis Hamilton’s assault on the sixth place stopped at lap 33, when the seven-time Method 1 world champion tried an undercut on the 18-year-old from Mercedes by switching to the medium tire.
Nonetheless, by the second lap of his stint, Kimi Antonelli’s onerous tire supplied extra grip and efficiency, and Lewis Hamilton misplaced the usage of the DRS system. From there on, a sluggish decline started: a ten.5-second hole by the top of the Japanese Grand Prix. The second stint was merely disastrous, which is unusual contemplating the yellow tire is doubtlessly extra performant than the onerous tire, particularly within the first 15 laps.
But, as talked about, within the final 23 laps, the common delta to Kimi Antonelli was about 5 tenths per lap. To know what the precise limitations of the SF-25 had been within the ultimate a part of the race, we determined to research two laps concurrently from the Italian driver and Lewis Hamilton. We’re speaking about lap quantity 46. As a premise, you will need to notice that there was loads of speak about experience heights for the reason that begin of the 2025 Method 1 season.
Nicely, may these have affected the second half of the race on the 5.807-kilometre Suzuka Circuit? As a result of we do not forget that because the automotive consumes gasoline, it naturally lightens in weight and, consequently, it rises barely from the reference aircraft, presumably reaching heights that aren’t superb for the right functioning of the Ferrari single-seater. That is our speculation. As for the remainder, there’s the thermal degradation that Lewis Hamilton himself confirmed by way of varied group radio messages.
From the preliminary evaluation of the telemetry, it’s evident that every one of Kimi Antonelli’s benefit is within the first sector, and that is fairly curious: theoretically, that is the part of the monitor the place essentially the most grip is required, which a softer tire compound can present. Solely within the snake part, particularly from corners 2 to 7, does Lewis Hamilton lose as a lot as 0.519 seconds. In each single nook of the lengthy part, the British driver has a big pace deficit.
We particularly discover this within the exit of flip 6 and within the entry into flip 7, the place the delta is even 9 kilometers per hour: all through the Suzuka weekend, the Purple automotive struggled with understeer, and this nook is evident proof of that. Even within the race, this phenomenon was current, though it appeared rather more pronounced on the British driver’s automotive than on Charles Leclerc‘s, the place small enhancements in rotation had been seen.
Moreover, the dearth of grip and downforce generated on the medium Pirelli compound can be confirmed by the complete throttle and full braking knowledge: as a lot as 4.6% extra and 5.8% much less, respectively, in favor of Kimi Antonelli, indicating that the Italian was a lot faster and extra simply on the throttle for traction, and wanted to make use of the brakes much less, displaying wonderful rotation and agility.
Contemplating the British driver’s dealing with, the Spoon part, particularly corners 13-14, was the litmus take a look at for the seven-time Method 1 champion. Part of the monitor the place it’s mandatory to hold as a lot pace as attainable into the nook and thru it, then attempt to get on the fuel earlier, utilizing all of the monitor, and absolutely experience the exterior curb. Lewis Hamilton struggled from qualifying on Saturday, and within the race, the distinction was greater than clear.
He even loses 8 kilometers per hour on the apex, as he’s compelled to make use of the brakes rather more to decelerate the automotive, switch weight to the entrance, and purpose the entrance finish on the apex of the nook. Within the exit, as soon as once more, he’s late on the throttle pedal, displaying a scarcity of traction, after which carries the drawback all through the 130R part, compromising not solely the second sector but in addition a part of the third.
The British driver had acknowledged that he sacrificed qualifying efficiency for a race-oriented setup, however the knowledge tells a distinct story. In actual fact, it’s the actual reverse. There may be definitely nonetheless a lot work to be carried out for Ferrari, and they should examine the dynamics of this SF-25 automotive rigorously. A automotive that, in the mean time, can not extract all its potential, mainly as a result of the setups usually are not being optimized.
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