Ferrari submits Hamilton, Leclerc request after fundamental SF-25 issue d… read more
Ferrari is grappling with a significant problem affecting the performance of its SF-25 car in the 2025 Formula 1 season, a fundamental issue related to ride height. This predicament has led the team to request that its drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, employ a specific driving technique: lift and coast. According to Sky F1 reporter Ted Kravitz, this unusual request is a crucial measure designed to mitigate the consequences of the ride height problem and prevent the team from resorting to drastic, potentially detrimental setup changes.
The SF-25’s ride height issue has plagued the team since the season’s commencement. The problem first manifested during practice sessions at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where it became evident that the car was operating dangerously close to the ground. This proximity to the track surface proved to be a major source of concern, as it resulted in excessive wear and tear on the car’s components.
The consequences of this fundamental flaw were swiftly felt. Just one week after the Australian Grand Prix, at the Chinese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, despite achieving pole position and winning the sprint race in Shanghai, was disqualified. The reason cited for his disqualification was excessive wear on his skid blocks – a direct consequence of the SF-25’s low ride height. The skid blocks, crucial components protecting the underside of the car, were suffering from the constant scraping against the track surface, a consequence of the car operating too close to the ground.
The disqualification in China served as a stark warning to the Ferrari team, highlighting the severity of the ride height issue and its potential to derail the team’s championship ambitions. The team was forced to react, and the subsequent response involved a compromise: raising the car’s ride height. However, this solution, while necessary to prevent further component failures and disqualifications, came at a cost. Raising the ride height inevitably compromised the car’s overall performance. The higher ride height negatively impacted the car’s aerodynamic efficiency and its handling characteristics, leading to a reduction in overall speed and lap times.
Hamilton himself acknowledged the compromised performance stemming from the adjusted ride height, confirming that Ferrari had been forced to make this difficult decision to safeguard the car’s structural integrity. The decision to raise the ride height was not an ideal solution, but a necessary one to prevent further incidents like the disqualification in China.
Enter the “lift and coast” strategy. This technique, where drivers lift off the throttle and coast at certain points on the track, is being employed to reduce the stress placed upon the car’s components, particularly the vulnerable underbody. By reducing the load on the car, especially during high-speed corners and braking zones, Ferrari hopes to minimize the wear and tear on the skid blocks and other components affected by the low ride height. This technique, while seemingly simple, is a crucial element in the team’s attempts to manage the ongoing issue and prevent further damaging incidents.
While less than ideal, this strategy – requesting that Hamilton and Leclerc lift and coast – represents a short-term solution to a complex problem. The underlying issue, the fundamental ride height problem itself, remains unsolved. Ferrari is undoubtedly working tirelessly to address the root cause, but until a more permanent fix is found, the lift and coast technique is a temporary means of controlling the damage and keeping both drivers in the race. The long-term implications remain uncertain, but for now, Ferrari’s focus is on damage limitation and ensuring their drivers can still compete for podium positions, despite the significant challenge posed by this SF-25 issue.
