Ferrari claims a podium with Charles Leclerc in the Spanish Grand Prix, the ninth spherical of the 2025 Method 1 championship. The Barcelona F1 race ends with out penalties for the Monegasque driver, who after the FIA investigation comes out “clear” from the shut encounter with Max Verstappen. For Lewis Hamilton, nevertheless, issues didn’t go as anticipated. The Englishman struggled with steadiness points whereas carrying lots of gasoline and was unable to ship his finest efficiency within the SF-25.
In the beginning, most drivers opted for Smooth tires, each new and used. Strategic forecasts indicated a two-stop Spanish Grand Prix to take care of a excessive tempo. Ferrari selected Pirellis marked with pink for each drivers, however Charles Leclerc had a barely more energizing set than the one Lewis Hamilton was utilizing. Within the first laps, Max Verstappen confirmed a formidable tempo.
However his set of tires was two laps older than Oscar Piastri’s, the race chief. Then the Dutchman started to endure, whereas McLaren stood out for a simpler thermal administration. Oscar Piastri nonetheless reported some rear difficulties, comprehensible contemplating how front-loaded the MCL39 single-seater was.
We’re speaking a couple of steadiness aimed toward favoring rotation, however on the identical time it burdened the rear axle of the papaya-colored vehicles a bit an excessive amount of. In distinction, different groups targeted on defending the rear axle as a lot as doable, however this mechanically compromised the front-end’s effectiveness.
Ferrari responded to a Mercedes transfer, whereas Pink Bull tried one thing completely different by bringing Max Verstappen in for his first cease on lap 14. As soon as again on observe, the Dutchman pushed at full throttle, with out even a lap to adapt: a transparent signal of the intention to play the three-stop card. The tempo was not sufficient to threaten the McLarens however was higher than Ferrari and Mercedes.
Pink Bull discovered itself within the superb place to try a extra aggressive technique. The primary of the 2 Ferrari vehicles to cease was Lewis Hamilton’s, pressured to cowl the undercut try by George Russell. To keep away from dropping place to the seven-time Method 1 world champion, the Italian staff selected to convey him in early, accepting to increase the following stint.
In the meantime, Mercedes confronted a tough alternative: lengthen the stint or pit instantly. Nonetheless, the overcut proved to be ineffective and even counterproductive. Charles Leclerc was additionally referred to as within the following lap to forestall Lewis Hamilton from gaining floor with new tires. As typically occurs, Ferrari set a cautious begin to the stint for each drivers, an extra motive to keep away from dropping positions through the pit stops.
Each mounted Medium tires, the identical compound the Maranello staff deliberate to make use of once more on the finish. With the cease recreation, Mercedes managed to stress Ferrari, forcing it to pit earlier. George Russell pitted on lap 23 to placed on Mediums. The four-lap hole to Lewis Hamilton might have mattered within the second half, however entrance tire degradation confirmed up sooner than anticipated, negating among the benefit.
Pink Bull’s plan was to realize by tempo. Between laps 21 and 22, each McLaren vehicles made their first stops, becoming Medium tires as predicted. Every pit cease prices about 21 seconds, and realizing he needed to make three stops, Max Verstappen wanted to get better not less than four-tenths per lap. Within the center part, till the MCL39 vehicles stopped, the Dutchman lower the hole by about one and a half seconds per lap, sufficient to alarm the Woking pit.
In line with Pink Bull’s calculations, round lap 40 McLaren really felt the chance. After a really intense second half, Max Verstappen pitted for the final time on lap 41 switching to Softs: the concept was to attempt a ultimate cost to seize not less than one podium step. On the identical second, Charles Leclerc made his second tire change. The one lifelike goal was to lock in fourth place and defend towards any Mercedes comeback.
Once more, the selection fell on a second set of Mediums, thought-about extra constant than the Softs. Nonetheless, the Ferrari staff most well-liked to not threat, selecting strategic consistency over creativity. The administration of the Pirelli tires appeared strong, as already seen in Imola, particularly for Charles Leclerc, an indication of improved management over floor temperatures.
The Security Automobile ruined the whole lot for Verstappen and proved an sudden alternative for the Maranello staff. On lap 54, the Security Automobile got here out because of Kimi Antonelli’s retirement. Nonetheless, its look didn’t provide important strategic benefits for the reason that principal stops have been already carried out. The truth is, for Max Verstappen—already having pitted 3 times—the neutralization was a blow.
With Smooth tires used for 11 laps, Pink Bull was pressured to pit for a fourth cease as a result of the competitors was making ready to mount more energizing tires (nearly all on Softs used for 4 laps). Solely Nico Hülkenberg had a brand new set. Basically, Pink Bull judged Max Verstappen’s tires too worn to defend on the restart, particularly towards rivals with more energizing compounds.
With out another units of Smooth tires obtainable, they opted for the Laborious tires, the one various left. On the restart, nevertheless, the onerous compound proved ineffective: the temperature had not but reached the perfect vary and Verstappen misplaced grip exiting the final nook. The consequence was a double overtake by Charles Leclerc and George Russell, which excluded the Dutchman from the rostrum.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
