Ferrari is addressing an issue with their simulator data.
"We made an error with the setup,"
By GMM
20 March 2025 - 09:38
Ferrari has been diligently working in the Maranello simulator to rectify a problem that reportedly resulted in an unsuitable setup baseline in Melbourne, as noted by Italy’s La Repubblica. The pre-season excitement regarding a potential world championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc diminished last weekend as the 2025 season kicked off in Australia.
"We made an error with the setup," team principal Frederic Vasseur expressed his disappointment.
As the team prepares for this weekend's Chinese GP, sources indicate that Ferrari's simulator produced inaccurate data prior to Melbourne, which resulted in incorrect ride height adjustments and an inappropriate rear wing choice. However, the issue may run deeper than that.
"I spoke to Fred Vasseur," former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner shared with f1-insider.com. "He seemed a bit disheartened by the winter development. He also believed they were closer."
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher raised concerns that if Vasseur fails to deliver a title-winning car for the third consecutive time, it could jeopardize his position. "I firmly believe that if they do not head towards the world championship and are not fighting for numerous victories, Ferrari will explore every option," he told Sky Deutschland. "It would be a real pity, as I consider Fred Vasseur to be the right person in the right place."
Another aspect to consider is 40-year-old Hamilton's inability thus far to meet the expectations following his move from Mercedes. "The honeymoon period is over," Steiner stated after the race in Melbourne. "Now he needs to deliver."
The seven-time world champion acknowledged that he is still adapting to a significantly different car, but there were also noticeable signs of friction between Hamilton and his race engineer, the seasoned Riccardo Adami, during the Melbourne race. Hamilton mentioned to reporters that Adami—who previously worked with Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel—"did his best" during the event.
"Generally, I’m not one to require excessive information during the race unless I ask for it," he said. "But he did his utmost, and we’ll progress from here."
Schumacher cautioned that even Hamilton should not feel too secure in his position at Ferrari. "At Ferrari, nobody is guaranteed safety," he remarked, "and that goes for the drivers as well."
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Ferrari is addressing an issue with their simulator data.
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