Ferrari to introduce new floor in Bahrain to solve SF-25 crisis

Ferrari will introduce a crucial new floor upgrade in Bahrain aimed at solving the fundamental issues that have led to disappointing results and technical disqualifications in recent races.

The team is banking on this development to expand the SF-25's operating window and unlock the car's untapped potential.

Floor upgrade

The first significant technical package of the season will arrive in Bahrain, where engineers plan to implement a redesigned floor.

This upgrade could indirectly expand the range of operational ride heights for the SF-25, addressing one of its key limitations.

While not specifically designed to solve a single problem, the new floor represents Ferrari's most substantial response to their early-season struggles.

Team engineers have identified rear-end stiffness as the critical weakness compromising the car's performance.

Despite excellent aerodynamic efficiency, this issue has severely limited the SF-25's operational window, leading to inconsistent performance that culminated in the Chinese Grand Prix disqualifications.

Fundamental flaws

Ferrari's 1100th Grand Prix participation in China highlighted the team's current predicament – winning a Sprint race before suffering a humiliating double disqualification.

This stark contrast underscores the enigmatic nature of a car with tremendous potential but puzzling limitations.

Of particular concern was Lewis Hamilton's disqualification, which indicated the car couldn't maintain consistent performance over multiple laps – a fundamental flaw directly related to the issues the Bahrain upgrade aims to address.

Before the new floor arrives, Ferrari's engineers must focus on optimizing the current package.

The next two races will prove decisive in managing damage limitation.

Contrary to widespread pessimism, Suzuka might offer relatively better conditions than China if other teams are also forced to raise their ride heights to manage the circuit's undulations.

Setup optimization remains promising but requires significant track time.

Stiffer compound tires may help mitigate current limitations, and higher tire pressures showed positive results during Shanghai's Sprint race victory.

Understanding the complex SF-25

No major updates will arrive before the Bahrain floor.

Team Principal Fred Vasseur and Technical Director Loic Serra face the challenge of better understanding the current package while avoiding excessive experimentation that has led to errors.

The championship standings currently paint a bleak picture, even worse than the disastrous 2020 season, though technical comparisons between those cars would be misguided.

The SF-25 isn't simple or perfect and has invisible limitations, but with the planned floor upgrade and improved understanding, it has the potential to deliver the performance Ferrari desperately needs.