P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari took the opportunity of F1’s flexi wing clapdown to introduce an all-new front wing design in Spain – but what next for its 2025 car?
At the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari has struggled to replicate its strong performance from Monaco, where it challenged McLaren. The new technical directive on front wings has invalidated previous wing designs, requiring adjustments to comply with FIA regulations. Despite no major changes in the race order, teams, including Ferrari, have had to adapt their setups to the new rules, affecting overall performance across different track layouts.
As a result, Ferrari’s SF-25, which already had operating window limitations, encountered difficulties optimizing its setup for various circuits. While the car excelled in Monaco due to the nature of the street track, the requirements of traditional circuits have exposed its shortcomings, revealing a larger performance deficit that cannot be easily closed by upgrades alone.
Ferrari has leveraged the technical directive to introduce a revised front wing design, incorporating aerodynamic changes to improve performance. The stiffer front wing introduces challenges in high-speed corners, altering the car’s handling characteristics. Despite the modifications, Ferrari is still awaiting a significant performance boost, as it continues to grapple with setup compromises and tyre-related issues.
Although certain aspects of Ferrari’s car have shown promise in specific conditions, the team faces persistent challenges in maintaining competitiveness throughout the season. While McLaren has established a clear performance advantage, Ferrari’s ongoing development efforts aim to bridge the gap and remain in contention for race wins.
