2025 Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team

[ringo]

Hamilton mentioned that he never use engine braking settings before at Mercedes and that the Ferrari requires it.
Does any know more about this difference between the PUs?
Max mentions it for the Honda engine also.
Why does the Merc not need these settings changeable by the drivers?
I am assuming it's an off throttle and MGU mapping to manipulate the engine braking.

[Sevach]

Hamilton mentioned that he never use engine braking settings before at Mercedes and that the Ferrari requires it.
Does any know more about this difference between the PUs?
Max mentions it for the Honda engine also.
Why does the Merc not need these settings changeable by the drivers?
I am assuming it's an off throttle and MGU mapping to manipulate the engine braking.

I suppouse Mercedes ties this to other options in the car has and the engineer pre-programs each before the race.
You change entry Diff settings and the engine braking changes accordingly, all this while achieving the necessary harvesting for the track.
This would make sense to me since both settings affect rear stability under braking, the Ferrari system seems complicated for a driver to figure it out on his own, since the 2 things can go in a opposite direction, but maybe allows more options and fine tuning.

[Space-heat]

Charles and Lewis did the maximum today. Safety car was poorly timed from Charles.

Hopefully, George gets a five second, Ferrari need to comb Norris' onboard for a fourth track limit. Charles DRS popped open mid turn 11 with Norris right behind, was mad. If George gets done, you'd imagine Charles could get done as well.

I saw that as well, but surely he would've spun out if the DRS opened? Are you sure it wasn't a light reflecting off the shiny black rear wing or something?

Here the clip from the on board:
https://twitter.com/PieroLadisa/status/ ... 9637021796

It was only quick. Charles was rightly fuming on the radio.

[Space-heat]

I couldn't find the interview but this article has the quote:

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/04/ ... ould-want/

Essentially Charles saying (assuming on my part) that the fix for the ride height is “is longer than I would want”. Seems to point to further down the line than 3-4 races. Real shame, as it seems we would be with in touching distance of McL.

Does anyone have any timelines for when the fix was reported? I need some grasp on when I can have hope again.

[franbatista123]

Honestly as a fan it's so frustrating that after all this time Norris or Piastri will probably be world champions before Leclerc. They're obviously great, but the fact that Ferrari hasn't been able to have "the" car for Charles is so sad. Unless the FIA clampdown in Barcelona actually changes things up, i don't see how Ferrari can turn things around this year with a deficit so high already.

[Space-heat]

Honestly as a fan it's so frustrating that after all this time Norris or Piastri will probably be world champions before Leclerc. They're obviously great, but the fact that Ferrari hasn't been able to have "the" car for Charles is so sad. Unless the FIA clampdown in Barcelona actually changes things up, i don't see how Ferrari can turn things around this year with a deficit so high already.

Certainly not idea. Seems like Ferrari are exploiting the flexi wing too (maybe to a lesser extent) but you have to imagine Red Bull will be the real beneficiaries.

[GrizzleBoy]

Hamilton mentioned that he never use engine braking settings before at Mercedes and that the Ferrari requires it.
Does any know more about this difference between the PUs?
Max mentions it for the Honda engine also.
Why does the Merc not need these settings changeable by the drivers?
I am assuming it's an off throttle and MGU mapping to manipulate the engine braking.

Could be the famous lift and coast and/or different methods of energy deployment through the lap.

The Ferrari K unit is supposedly very strong so it's possible they use more energy on corner exit but do more recovery in braking zones.

It could also explain where Adami is telling Lewis Charles' time is coming from him braking 10m earlier in a bunch of corners.

If Lewis is late braking everywhere, he would be recovering less energy everywhere too.

Which could also explain his worse corner exits out of slow corners, wouldn't it? Less energy to push the car in traction zones?

Yep, that's it.

I've decided it's about different energy deployment/harvesting strengths and philosophy to how the Merc power unit worked.

[bananapeel23]

Charles and Lewis did the maximum today. Safety car was poorly timed from Charles.

Hopefully, George gets a five second, Ferrari need to comb Norris' onboard for a fourth track limit. Charles DRS popped open mid turn 11 with Norris right behind, was mad. If George gets done, you'd imagine Charles could get done as well.

I saw that as well, but surely he would've spun out if the DRS opened? Are you sure it wasn't a light reflecting off the shiny black rear wing or something?

Here the clip from the on board:
https://twitter.com/PieroLadisa/status/ ... 9637021796

It was only quick. Charles was rightly fuming on the radio.

That's scary. Luckily it opened at pretty much the only time in that entire corner where it wouldn't have sent him into an immediate spin.

[bananapeel23]

I couldn't find the interview but this article has the quote:

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/04/ ... ould-want/

Essentially Charles saying (assuming on my part) that the fix for the ride height is “is longer than I would want”. Seems to point to further down the line than 3-4 races. Real shame, as it seems we would be with in touching distance of McL.

Does anyone have any timelines for when the fix was reported? I need some grasp on when I can have hope again.

I'd imagine around the start of the European leg. Maybe Imola if we're lucky, if not I think it will be in Spain, since large upgrade packages are common there.

[Seanspeed]

I dont think there is much left in this regulation for McLaren to exploit. The car may just get more undrivable if they get too greedy for downforce. Ferrari theoretically can close up to where McLaren is now.

Mclaren have proven they understand these regulations better than anyone, and went from fastest car last year to dominant car this year, finding more than basically everybody over the winter. They absolutely can protect their lead if if they need to.

Ferrari need a miracle transformation ASAP to gain the ability to start consistently winning races if there's any hope of a title. It's just not likely.

[bluechris]

Hamilton mentioned that he never use engine braking settings before at Mercedes and that the Ferrari requires it.
Does any know more about this difference between the PUs?
Max mentions it for the Honda engine also.
Why does the Merc not need these settings changeable by the drivers?
I am assuming it's an off throttle and MGU mapping to manipulate the engine braking.

I am a bit confused here. He said "I’ve been using engine braking, which I’ve never ever used in my previous years. " and this is the part i dont really get. Since the beginning of the hybrid Era and the MGU-K, the rear brakes became smaller because the braking is huppening for a huge percentage from the engine to harvest energy for the batteries, so what he is saying here? How is MB doing this when you brake? they brake with the discs? i mean they have created a so perfect brake balance by disks and engine braking combination that its a set&forget setting?
Its hard to believe that in my mind... i think he wanted to say something different as matter the harvesting.

[GrizzleBoy]

Hamilton mentioned that he never use engine braking settings before at Mercedes and that the Ferrari requires it.
Does any know more about this difference between the PUs?
Max mentions it for the Honda engine also.
Why does the Merc not need these settings changeable by the drivers?
I am assuming it's an off throttle and MGU mapping to manipulate the engine braking.

I am a bit confused here. He said "I’ve been using engine braking, which I’ve never ever used in my previous years. " and this is the part i dont really get. Since the beginning of the hybrid Era and the MGU-K, the rear brakes became smaller because the braking is huppening for a huge percentage from the engine to harvest energy for the batteries, so what he is saying here? How is MB doing this when you brake? they brake with the discs? i mean they have created a so perfect brake balance by disks and engine braking combination that its a set&forget setting?
Its hard to believe that in my mind... i think he wanted to say something different as matter the harvesting.

Maybe the Merc MGU-H was stronger and required less harvesting from lift and coast through a lap.

[Space-heat]

I couldn't find the interview but this article has the quote:

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/04/ ... ould-want/

Essentially Charles saying (assuming on my part) that the fix for the ride height is “is longer than I would want”. Seems to point to further down the line than 3-4 races. Real shame, as it seems we would be with in touching distance of McL.

Does anyone have any timelines for when the fix was reported? I need some grasp on when I can have hope again.

I'd imagine around the start of the European leg. Maybe Imola if we're lucky, if not I think it will be in Spain, since large upgrade packages are common there.

Imola would be huge but they way Charles is talking I would agree on Spain.

It is such a shame. As Lando and Oscar are not at Max's level, so the door is open if Ferrari could have landed the launch SF-25. Have to hope Oscar, Lando and Max keep taking points off each other and Charles can get consistent 3rd and 4th. Realistically though if it is Spain it will probably be too late.

[atanatizante]

Some observations after the race:

- The car`s pace was more consistent
- Tires were better managed, and most importantly
- Both drivers were able to drive with greater confidence
- The update had worked, and the car`s aerodynamic platform was more predictable
- The car was more stable at mid and exit of the corner
- The floor generated the expected downforce but was built to address the test's issues
- There are still dark areas as the floor was not used to its full potential due to the SF25 still needing to maintain a higher than optimal ride height to avoid aerodynamic oscillations (this is what LEC was inferring to)
- The car needs additional or revised vortex generators at the floor edge to compensate for the sealing loss at the rear due to still running higher than optimal ride height
- Furthermore, telemetry data showed a repeating pattern in high-load corners, the car's rear axle was still losing grip in critical phases, forcing the drivers to open the steering mid-corner.
- Those small wheel corrections (particularly LEC using them for rotating the car), which at first glance may seem insignificant, are exactly the difference between competing for podium finishes or being left in no man's land
- The car still requires awkward compromises, and the engineer’s margins for maneuver remain narrow

[SoulPancake13]

- There are still dark areas as the floor was not used to its full potential due to the SF25 still needing to maintain a higher than optimal ride height to avoid aerodynamic oscillations (this is what LEC was inferring to)

I have not seen anything that mentions the bouncing as an issue before, just that the plank wear becomes an issue when riding too low because of the suspension being too soft. Do you have a source on this?