Ferrari baffled by inconsistent SF-25 performance in US GP

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur expressed his frustration and confusion regarding the “really up and down” performance of the SF-25 car during the United States Grand Prix weekend. Despite showing competitive pace in the Sprint and qualifying, the team struggled with an unpredictable drop in performance in the main race, leaving Vasseur and the team searching for answers.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's inconsistency undermines their ability to consistently challenge for podiums and championship contention. The struggle to optimize tire performance across different sessions highlights a fundamental issue that needs addressing for the team to bridge the gap to Red Bull and McLaren.

The Details:

• Vasseur's Confusion: Fred Vasseur admitted to GPblog that he struggled to understand the sudden drop in performance between the Sprint and the main race.
• Tire Window Challenges: Vasseur pointed to the difficulty in consistently getting the tires into their optimal operating window as a key factor. He noted that this issue affects all teams but is more pronounced for Ferrari due to their current performance deficit.
• Impact on Results: Vasseur explained that while top teams like McLaren and Red Bull might still secure P2 or P3 when not performing optimally, Ferrari can drop as low as P10, emphasizing the critical need for consistency.

The Big Picture:

Ferrari's Austin weekend was a microcosm of their season's highs and lows. After a disappointing qualifying for the Sprint, they recovered to strong positions in the Sprint itself. Charles Leclerc then secured a P3 grid slot for the main race, and the team showed improved pace, with Leclerc battling for second and Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth. However, the underlying inconsistency in performance from session to session continues to be a major hurdle.

What's next:

Ferrari will continue their quest for consistency at the Mexican Grand Prix. In a notable change for the upcoming weekend, Antonio Fuoco, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and Le Mans winner, will take the wheel of the SF-25 for FP1, replacing Lewis Hamilton. This move allows the team to gather valuable data and provide experience for Fuoco, while Hamilton will return for FP2. The team hopes to find more stability in performance as they revert to a standard weekend format after the Austin Sprint.