Scuderia Ferrari had excessive hopes of constructing a big breakthrough on the Barcelona Grand Prix on the Circuit de Catalunya. Though they didn’t introduce main upgrades, the workforce anticipated their rivals to battle below new rules. The FIA had applied a lot stricter assessments on entrance wings to remove unlawful flexibility, and Ferrari anticipated this may mark a turning level of their 2025 season. They predicted groups like McLaren and Mercedes would face setbacks. Nevertheless, the outcomes proved in any other case, leaving Ferrari dissatisfied.
McLaren dominated qualifying with a one-two end, and Oscar Piastri was over three-tenths of a second quicker than the following closest competitor exterior the workforce, Max Verstappen. Ferrari managed solely fourth-fastest peak efficiency, with Lewis Hamilton main in fifth place behind the McLarens, Verstappen’s Purple Bull, and George Russell’s Mercedes.
Regardless of this, Ferrari secured 23 factors within the race as Charles Leclerc achieved a second consecutive podium, boosting the workforce to second place within the Constructors’ Championship. Charles Leclerc admitted {that a} late security automotive performed a component in his podium end, whereas Lewis Hamilton struggled all through the race, ending seventh on full gas with no likelihood to problem the frontrunners.
One notable problem for Ferrari was a late entrance wing change mandated by the FIA in Spain. Like all groups, Ferrari needed to modify their entrance wing design to fulfill the brand new rules. In accordance with the Italian media, the FIA ordered Ferrari to switch their entrance wing between the third apply session and qualifying, which was an unusually late directive. Ferrari made the mandatory adjustments with out a lot issue.
Ferrari’s workforce principal Fred Vasseur revealed that the Briton encountered issues along with his automotive throughout the ultimate stint of the race, which contributed to an embarrassing second the place he was overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg in a buyer Sauber. Lewis Hamilton accepted accountability for his underwhelming efficiency.
It stays unclear if the FIA’s late instruction concerning the entrance wing had any unfavourable affect on Hamilton or the Ferrari workforce. Nevertheless, the FIA might must make clear why such a late intervention occurred deep into the race weekend.
Lewis Hamilton’s radio messages throughout the race highlighted ongoing entrance wing difficulties. Whereas Lewis Hamilton outqualified Leclerc for the primary time because the Chinese language Grand Prix, Leclerc’s tempo throughout the race was in a unique league. Ferrari swapped the 2 drivers early on, with Charles Leclerc, automotive quantity 16, considerably quicker.
Lewis Hamilton struggled with front-end grip all through the race. On lap 57, he reported by way of radio that the entrance of his automotive abruptly felt very mild. 5 laps later, he complained of primarily having “no entrance wing.” Ferrari is now investigating whether or not the entrance wing adjustments made earlier than and through the Spanish GP weekend contributed to Hamilton’s dealing with points.
Carlos Sainz, who was changed at Ferrari by the Briton, expressed sympathy for Lewis Hamilton’s struggles, understanding the challenges that include adjusting to new automobiles and groups. Whereas Carlos Sainz has discovered his rhythm at Williams, the seven-time System 1 world champion’s difficulties recommend that the seven-time world champion nonetheless faces an uphill battle to search out kind this season.
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