Ferrari is preparing for a crucial moment in Bahrain as the team brings a series of updates after a difficult start to the season.
New Floor, New Challenge for Ferrari in Bahrain
Ferrari is preparing for an important weekend in Bahrain, where they will bring the first evolutionary package of the season. After a disappointing start to the championship, Maranello is working on updates to improve the SF-25’s performance.
Improvements revolve around the floor of the single-seater, which has been redesigned. Engineers have worked on the Venturi tunnels and the diffuser, as these features are fundamental for aerodynamic load management.
The objective is clear: increase stability, especially in the maximum load phase. Ferrari is trying to correct the imbalances highlighted so far, which will make their time in Bahrain easier in comparison to the first three rounds.
Despite these updates to the SF-25, it is not certain that the problems will be fully resolved as early as Bahrain.
As is often the case in F1, simulations do not always match the behaviour on the track. However, the package may also positively surprise.
Beyond the car floor, changes are also planned at the rear.
The design of the rear mainplane support will change, and a new brake duct will be introduced. These interventions are aimed at improving the aerodynamics and overall efficiency of the car.
Tough Asphalt, Crucial Tyre Choices
The Bahrain International Circuit represents a real challenge for teams and drivers due to the abrasive asphalt conditions.
With this, the track tests the tyres against high granite content, forcing Pirelli to utilise hard compounds.
To preserve durability and performance, the minimum pressures have been raised to 23 psi on the front and 21 psi on the rear.
Naturally, Ferrari will have to pay close attention to tyre management. This could further complicate the team’s work.
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No FP1 for Leclerc, but Golden Opportunity for Ferrari
In the first free practice session of the weekend, Charles Leclerc will not take to the track. Dino Beganovic will take the Monegasque’s place, as required by the regulations that require teams to run young drivers during certain sessions of the year.
This could be a setback for Ferrari, considering that FP1 would have been useful for collecting data on the updates brought to Bahrain.
However, the decision to introduce the new features at this stage still makes sense because the Sakhir track hosted pre-season testing.
This will allow the team to make direct comparisons with previously collected data, making it easier to analyse the differences and the effectiveness of the changes introduced.
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What to Expect from Ferrari in Bahrain?
Bahrain represents an important opportunity for Ferrari, who arrive with updates to the SF-25.
Hopefully, they can improve performance to boost the Scuderia after a difficult start to the season.
The changes, particularly to the floor of the F1 car, are designed to increase stability and improve aerodynamics. However, it will be important to see how these changes will react to such a demanding circuit.
At the same time, the team will have to deal with the difficulties of the abrasive asphalt and tyre management. This will be felt further as Pirelli has already raised the pressures to adapt to the extreme track conditions.
In this context, Ferrari will have to hope that these evolutions can have a positive impact. It will also be an opportunity to collect crucial data for the rest of the season.
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Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Jay Hirano
Recording Date: 06.04.2025
