Ferrari head to the Spanish Grand Prix hot off their best result of the season so far in the Monaco GP, where Charles Leclerc secured P2 and Lewis Hamilton finished in P5.
It even marked only the second time this term that Ferrari have celebrated a podium finish, as Leclerc improved on his P3 from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Hamilton is yet to reach a Grand Prix rostrum since joining the Scuderia from Mercedes ahead of the 2025 F1 season.
The last two rounds have yielded Hamilton’s best results with Ferrari, having also achieved a season-best P4 in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. He also qualified P4 in the Principality, yet Hamilton got a grid penalty for the Monaco GP after Riccardo Adami gave false information.
Hopes are also high in Maranello ahead of this weekend’s round at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as Ferrari expect the FIA’s flexi-wing clampdown in Spain will hurt McLaren. All 10 teams have had since January to design new front wings ahead of the meeting in Montmelo.
Ferrari could struggle at the Spanish Grand Prix thanks to the aero-dependent Barcelona circuit
Yet while Ferrari hope the FIA’s flexi-wing clampdown helps reduce their deficit to McLaren, Leclerc and Hamilton may struggle at this week’s Spanish GP. The aero-dependent nature of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is unlikely to suit the characteristics of the 2025 car well.
READ MORE: Most successful teams and engine manufacturers at the Spanish Grand Prix
That is according to Motor Sport Magazine, which claims Ferrari’s SF-25 is ‘likely to revert to its problematical self’ at the Spanish GP owing to the aerodynamically demanding layout of the track. The form that Leclerc, in particular, enjoyed in Monte Carlo was only a brief relief.
Leclerc led every practice session for the Monaco GP last weekend, before only missing out on pole position to McLaren racer Lando Norris by 0.109 seconds. Yet the Monegasque and Hamilton now face Ferrari’s problems returning once again this weekend at the Spanish GP.
Ferrari even face the ‘problematic’ characteristics of the SF-25 persisting until the team can debut the rear suspension upgrade that is in the works in Maranello. It will likely annoy the Briton, as Hamilton has a major lack of confidence pushing Ferrari’s car in its current guise.
Ferrari are pinning their 2025 F1 season on a rear suspension upgrade coming in Austria
It has also been reported that Ferrari will give up on 2025 if their imminent rear suspension upgrade fails. Leclerc and Hamilton will have to make do with the current set-up on their SF-25 for now, though, as Ferrari hope to unveil the upgrade at the Austrian GP on June 27-29.
READ MORE: The most successful drivers at the Spanish GP of all time and in Barcelona
The Scuderia would ideally like to debut the upgrade at the Canadian Grand Prix on June 13-15, but Ferrari feel the round immediately following the Spanish GP may come too soon. So, they intend to have it ready in time for the next double-header in Austria and Great Britain.
Team principal Fred Vasseur will no doubt be desperate for their upgraded rear suspension due at the Red Bull Ring to work, as well. Vasseur is under pressure at Ferrari, who recently failed with an approach to tempt Christian Horner to quit Red Bull and take over the team.
Leave feedback about this