“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 Method 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 might 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 staff that wanted and wished to ship a sign, whereas additionally highlighting that the street again to constantly being on the high remains to be lengthy, and is dependent upon the upcoming aerodynamic updates.
The qualifying session on Saturday confirmed a Ferrari because the fourth-best staff, 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, nevertheless, the Prancing Horse got here to life, as already seen final week in Bahrain earlier than the Security Automotive, stunning even Ferrari itself.
On the finish of the race, Ferrari staff principal Frédéric Vasseur defined that he didn’t have a transparent rationalization for a way and why the SF-25 carried out so nicely within the closing section of the primary stint on medium tires, however he additionally harassed 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 in an effort to begin additional up the grid.
Beginning fourth behind George Russell had a major influence 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 closing a part of the stint. With out sufficient of a delta to overhaul on observe, Charles Leclerc properly stored 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 top of the Security Automotive and the Briton’s pit cease, Charles Leclerc collected over 11 seconds of hole to Max Verstappen.
Nonetheless, as soon as George Russell pitted, giving him clear air to run in, Charles Leclerc unleashed his tempo, reducing lap occasions with a development that even stunned Ferrari, permitting them to increase the stint — an element that turned out to be essential in warding off Lando Norris’s comeback.
The fascinating facet is knowing the place that clear tempo enchancment got here from and the way it needs 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 might improve the tempo with out the chance of closing the hole and ending up once more in soiled air, which might have compromised the tires.
The almost six tenths common hole collected 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 lowered sliding and from decrease hundreds. This can 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 in addition that the Ferrari SF-25 automobile was noticeably simpler on the straights, with peaks as much as 10 kilometers per hour larger; a delta due each to aerodynamic decisions and a unique use of engine mapping.
Though high speeds are a energy of the automobile, it’s important to take 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 finally outlined his efficiency — although it doesn’t take away from how sturdy Charles Leclerc’s lap occasions had been throughout that section. Trying on the lap occasions, in reality, Charles Leclerc was virtually capable of match Lando Norris’s tempo throughout that clean-air section, 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 consequence 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 primary threat has all the time been graining. That is additionally proven by the inner comparability at Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli was certainly quicker than his teammate within the closing section 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 completely different stint administration might shift values.
These laps in clear air proved basic 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 Method 1 season is actually not the dream end result 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 a scarcity 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 is dependent upon including “balanced” downforce, which ought to present a efficiency leap each in qualifying and the race. However it’s now clear that, to make the leap — not simply in remoted instances, in a broader image that may even apply to Purple Bull — working solely on setup is now not sufficient, because the Monegasque is already extracting the utmost from it. One thing extra concrete is due to this fact wanted.
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