Ferrari Under Pressure: Hamilton Highlights Car Issues Amid….read more
The Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team is facing mounting pressure in the early stages of the 2025 season, leaving fans and analysts questioning if their hopes for a strong campaign are already fading. Despite showing early potential, Ferrari has struggled to deliver consistent results, with persistent issues plaguing the team’s performance. One of the most significant challenges has been with the SF-25 car’s ride height, a problem that has become a recurring theme throughout the season.
Ferrari’s woes began in earnest during the Australian Grand Prix when the team made an upward adjustment to the car’s ride height, likely in response to FIA plank wear regulations. While this adjustment was intended to meet regulatory standards, it had an unintended consequence: it drastically affected the car’s performance in medium-speed corners. The decision to raise the ride height resulted in the SF-25’s handling being compromised, and the car was much harder to control. This adjustment created a major setback, as the team was unable to perform at the level that was expected, and fans began to voice their concerns.
The team hoped to rectify the issue during the Chinese Grand Prix, making further adjustments to the ride height in a bid to improve the car’s aerodynamics. However, this move proved to be problematic as well. Lewis Hamilton, who was performing well in the race, ended up being disqualified due to excessive plank wear, a direct result of the adjustments made to the ride height. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s other driver, also found himself facing a penalty in China, though his disqualification was not due to plank wear but rather another technical infringement. The penalties in China highlighted the difficulty Ferrari faces in finding the right balance with the SF-25, particularly when it comes to adhering to the strict FIA regulations.
Team principal Fred Vasseur commented on the ongoing challenges Ferrari is facing in terms of ride height adjustments. After the Japanese Grand Prix, he explained that the team was constantly testing the limits of the car’s setup to find the right balance. “We all want to run the car lower, we would all have more downforce in the situation, for everybody, but there is a limit,” Vasseur said. “The limit is bottoming and the limit is the regulations. We are all spending the weekend on where is the limit and where can we run the car a bit lower, and then you are too low.” His comments reflected the dilemma faced by all teams, where performance is heavily linked to the car’s ride height. Too low, and the car will bottom out and suffer mechanical issues; too high, and aerodynamic performance takes a hit.
According to rumors circulating in the paddock, Ferrari is struggling more than its competitors to maintain a stiff car setup, especially when the car is fully fueled. This challenge forces the team to increase the ride height, which, while helping with handling, ultimately sacrifices speed. This issue was evident in the Chinese Grand Prix, where the team’s inability to achieve the right balance led to Hamilton’s disqualification and Leclerc’s penalty. It became clear that Ferrari is facing greater difficulty than other teams in finding the optimal setup, which is hurting their overall performance.
The problems continued to plague Ferrari during the Japanese Grand Prix. While the team managed to score points with both drivers, they finished far behind race winner Max Verstappen and the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The high-speed corners and steep sections of the Suzuka circuit exposed the weaknesses of the SF-25, and Ferrari’s overall performance was once again lacking compared to its rivals. Although both Leclerc and Hamilton managed to finish in the points, it was clear that Ferrari’s performance was far from where it needed to be to compete with the best.
In light of these ongoing challenges, it is clear that Ferrari must address the ride height issue if they hope to improve their performance in future races. Hamilton, in particular, has pointed out that the team needs to find a way to enhance the SF-25’s ride height without violating the strict regulations that govern the sport. The team will need to balance their pursuit of speed and aerodynamics with the limitations imposed by the FIA if they hope to get back into contention for podiums and race victories.
In conclusion, Ferrari’s 2025 season is off to a rocky start, and unless they can resolve their issues with the SF-25’s ride height and balance, it may be a long and difficult year for the iconic team. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Ferrari adapts and responds to these challenges in th
e coming races.
