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Since the start of this season, Charles Leclerc has found himself with a Ferrari that is extremely sensitive to changing conditions, making it particularly difficult to find the car’s optimal performance window. The Monegasque driver has had to deal with a Ferrari that has low mechanical grip and an unbalanced rear end—traits far from ideal, forcing him to adopt countermeasures to allow the SF-25 to perform at its best.
The struggles faced by Lewis Hamilton confirm the car’s complexity: the Briton’s difficulties don’t appear to stem solely from adapting to a new team, but rather from a car that is objectively difficult to interpret.
“It’s always very hard to compare how two drivers feel, because if you’re not comfortable, there will always be something that makes it harder for you than the other driver, and that’s why you can’t go as fast,” Leclerc explained.
“From my side, this year we’ve explored some pretty extreme directions in terms of setup to try and get more performance out of the car, and I’ve had to change my driving style a lot to adapt to the SF-25’s new demands.“That said, after seven years at Ferrari, there are probably some things that come naturally to me now, even if I’m not fully aware of them. But I do feel like I’m driving quite differently this year, because this car requires a very specific approach.”
Ferrari’s setup workAt Maranello, efforts are focused on achieving a more responsive front end, even at the expense of rear-end stability. It’s an approach reminiscent of Red Bull, where performance gains come from pushing setup limits and relying on the driver’s sensitivity.
“Obviously, I won’t go too much into detail, but this setup makes the car harder to drive, very nervous at the front, and that can be tricky—especially in qualifying when you’re on the limit,” Charles Leclerc explained.
“But it’s something I like, something I’ve always appreciated in my career. It takes a few races to readjust everything around the car and take it in that direction, and that’s exactly the process we’re going through. The last few races have delivered results, but that doesn’t mean it will be like this everywhere. We need to stay flexible and ready to take a step back if needed. For now, though, we’ll keep pushing in this direction, because I’m seeing real benefits and I feel comfortable.” – the Ferrari driver concluded ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
Just one podium so far is not enough, and the fact that Charles Leclerc has had to adapt his driving style is never the ideal solution. However, for the moment, it seems to be the only way forward. The SF-25 has a solid foundation, the first upgrades have started to pay off ahead of more to come, and the conditions are there to do well.
May 2, 2025
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