Electric Cars

Ferrari's aspirations for a successful 2025 Formula 1 season have been continually undermined by a series of recurring technical challenges, prominently highlighted during the recent Singapore Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc, a key driver for the Scuderia, had initially expressed optimism for a stronger showing at the Marina Bay circuit, viewing it as a potential turning point. However, the race weekend regrettably brought to the forefront the very issues that have persistently hampered the team's performance throughout the season. The SF-25 car demonstrated a fundamental lack of adaptability and an inherent predisposition to understeer, traits that proved particularly detrimental on Singapore's intricate and demanding street circuit. This event served as a stark reminder of Ferrari's ongoing struggle to optimize their vehicle's performance within the tight constraints of Formula 1 racing.

Leclerc's pre-race expectations were already tempered by previous disappointments, and the reality in Singapore proved even more challenging than anticipated. The unique characteristics of the Marina Bay track, featuring numerous low-speed corners and a requirement for a sharp front end, exacerbated the SF-25's inherent weaknesses. The car's chronic understeer, a complaint echoed by both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, became particularly pronounced. The team's strategy to address this involved a series of aggressive setup modifications, including significant adjustments to the car's ride height. While Ferrari's vehicle typically performs optimally with a low ride height, the bumpy nature of the street circuit necessitated raising the car, which inadvertently contributed to its handling difficulties.

The extensive experimentation conducted during Friday's practice sessions encompassed both aerodynamic and mechanical configurations, all aimed at achieving a more balanced and manageable car. Engineers grappled with finding a setup that could mitigate the prevalent understeer and enhance the SF-25's drivability. This included a strategic decision to utilize a lower-downforce rear wing, rather than the maximum-downforce variant, despite the relatively short straights in Singapore, which typically do not heavily influence lap times. This choice underscored the team's continuous search for a precarious balance between maintaining a precise front end, crucial for navigating a street circuit, and preserving the stability of the rear under acceleration, where thermal degradation of tires becomes a significant factor.

Adding to Ferrari's woes was a recurring issue with tire management. The SF-25 consistently struggled to extract peak performance from softer tire compounds compared to its rivals. This was evident in the qualifying sessions, where the Ferrari drivers showed minimal improvement between their second and third runs, a critical phase for shaving off those decisive tenths of a second. The difficulty in bringing tires up to optimal temperature from the start of a lap was a persistent problem, particularly affecting the middle sector of the circuit where drivers battled to rotate the car effectively and secure traction on corner exits. The brief periods spent in the pit lane further compounded this challenge, making it even harder to maintain front tire temperature.

Furthermore, the persistent braking issues that have troubled Ferrari throughout the 2025 season were magnified in Singapore. Both Leclerc and Hamilton reported difficulties managing their braking systems during the race. Leclerc experienced temperature imbalances between his right and left rear brakes from early on, a problem that later extended to the front axle. Hamilton faced a complete failure of his front brakes in the final laps, resulting in multiple track limit violations and a time penalty. These brake-related complications, exacerbated by the circuit's demanding sequence of heavy braking zones and limited cooling opportunities, underscored a deep-seated design or configuration flaw in the SF-25, highlighting areas that require urgent attention and redesign for future races.

In summation, the Singapore Grand Prix served as a microcosm of Ferrari's struggles in the 2025 season. The intricate interplay of an inherently challenging car design, the specific demands of a street circuit, and ongoing technical setbacks related to aerodynamics, tire behavior, and braking systems collectively prevented the team from realizing its potential. Despite the concerted efforts and experimental approaches by drivers and engineers, the SF-25's 'short blanket' characteristic—a limited margin for error and adjustment—meant that extreme measures were ultimately insufficient to overcome its fundamental limitations and deliver the desired competitive edge.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rising star in Formula 1, recently concluded the Singapore Grand Prix with a fifth-place finish. While this marks his second consecutive top-five placement, the young driver expressed disappointment over missed opportunities for a podium finish, attributing it to several key mistakes made during the challenging street circuit event. His performance, however, still garnered positive remarks for his notable progress and strategic race craft.

Antonelli demonstrated promising speed throughout the qualifying sessions at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, a track he was experiencing for the first time. He secured impressive fifth and third positions in Q1 and Q2, respectively, consistently trailing his Mercedes teammate George Russell by just a tenth of a second. However, a crucial misstep in Q3 saw him qualify fourth, nearly four-tenths adrift of Russell, who ultimately clinched pole position.

Reflecting on the qualifying outcome, Antonelli admitted, “I was a bit disappointed with yesterday because I felt I just overdrove. If I had controlled myself a little bit more, trying to do clean laps, it would have been a different story. I would have started further forward and it probably would have been a different race today.” This honest self-assessment highlights his awareness of the fine margins that separate a strong performance from an exceptional one in Formula 1.

Another critical error occurred at the start of the race. Starting from the dirtier side of the grid, Antonelli allowed Lando Norris to box him in, which gave Charles Leclerc an advantageous position on the outside. This tactical misjudgment meant Antonelli spent a significant portion of the race battling behind Leclerc's Ferrari. He later conceded, “My mistake in Turn 1 was to try and hold on to Norris. Then I found myself way too on the inside and Leclerc had a much better run on the outside.”

Despite these initial setbacks, Antonelli showcased commendable race pace and strategic thinking. He patiently managed his tires and eventually found the opportune moment to overtake Leclerc on lap 53 at Turn 16. His move was lauded by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who noted, “The manoeuvre on Leclerc was strong. It wasn't caught by the cameras, but we could see on the telemetry a huge braking event, that there was so much pressure in the system that it started to oscillate.”

While Antonelli finished a considerable distance behind the race winner and Oscar Piastri, his top-five finish contributed significantly to his season's points tally, collecting 22 points in the last two Grands Prix—surpassing his total from the previous ten rounds. Wolff emphasized Antonelli's critical self-evaluation, noting that the young driver tends to focus on what could have been better, viewing the fifth-place finish as a lost podium opportunity rather than a victory in itself. This perspective, according to Wolff, underscores Antonelli's drive for continuous improvement and his potential for future success in the sport.

Antonelli's outing in Singapore serves as a testament to his burgeoning talent and his readiness to learn from experience. His ability to recover from early race errors and execute a decisive overtake on a seasoned competitor like Leclerc bodes well for his future in Formula 1. The focus now shifts to refining his qualifying performance and race starts to convert raw speed into consistent podium finishes.