Ferrari’s underwhelming showing at the Australian Grand Prix was not solely due to poor strategy choices; they also managed to escape a significant technical disqualification which led them to reduce their speed.
Sudden Decline in Efficiency Sparks Queries
At Albert Park during practice sessions, Ferrari demonstrated impressive speed, which surprisingly vanished by Saturday. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggled in qualifying, securing only the seventh and eighth grid positions—a stark contrast to their previous performance. During the race itself, Leclerc momentarily advanced to fifth place, whereas Hamilton found himself trailing Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda for much of the time. It wasn’t until the final laps under chaotic and rainy conditions that they managed to fight their way into the top ten.
Initially, many criticized Ferrari's choice to postpone pit stops for intermediate tires as the heavy rain arrived towards the end of the race. Nonetheless, although this strategic move certainly led to a drop in their rankings, it wasn’t the primary reason behind their difficulties.
An Installation Error That Nearly Proved Disastrous
Based on a report from Motorsport.com.it , Ferrari’s difficulties stemmed from a crucial error in their simulator-derived race setup. The issue? The car’s suspension ride height was too low, causing excessive wear on the underfloor skid blocks. Had Ferrari run the race without correcting it, both Leclerc and Hamilton risked disqualification.
Ferrari's Formula 1 team depends significantly on their remote simulation centers, where engineers and test drivers meticulously adjust configurations prior to race weekends. However, the set-up they chose specifically for Melbourne proved faulty. Consequently, when the SF-25 raced in Friday’s sessions, it was positioned too low to the track surface; although this resulted in impressive single-lap performance, it also caused significant concerns regarding the car’s longevity.
The Threat of Disqualification Compels a Modification
Operating with insufficient ride height poses significant risks as it speeds up the deterioration of the vehicle's plank and skid blocks—the parts responsible for controlling how much the underbody scrapes the ground. This excessive wear has resulted in penalties previously; notably during last year’s United States Grand Prix, both Leclerc and Hamilton had their outcomes nullified due to this violation.
To prevent another such catastrophe, Ferrari had to make modifications prior to qualifying, increasing the car’s ride height and consequently compromising its aerodynamic performance. That's why the team unexpectedly saw a drop in competitiveness from what they showed on Friday.
Ferrari Eyeing Expansion in China
Now, the key point is determining if this was a single error or a fundamental flaw in the SF-25’s design. Team leader Frédéric Vasseur stays positive, stressing the significance of readiness for the forthcoming Chinese Grand Prix.
It will be crucial to have thoroughly prepped for the weekend using the Maranello simulator," Vasseur stated. "Our team will attend to each minor detail to optimize the performance of our SF-25 cars, providing the best support possible for Charles and Lewis, as they've consistently enjoyed racing at this circuit.
Given Shanghai’s distinct hurdles—such as an extended straightaway and erratic weather—Ferrari is eager to make sure their simulation tests match up precisely with actual race scenarios to prevent another expensive setback.