Analyzing Charles Leclerc and Ferrari’s Challenges at the Singapore Grand Prix 2025

In the lead-up to the 2025 Formula 1 season, Charles Leclerc had pinpointed the Singapore Grand Prix as one of the few remaining opportunities for Ferrari to showcase its potential and bring some joy to a season that had been marked by disappointment and underperformance. The Marina Bay circuit, known for its unique characteristics and night race atmosphere, offered a glimmer of hope for the Scuderia. However, as the race weekend unfolded, Leclerc’s initial optimism began to wane, revealing a harsher reality for the team.

Ferrari’s Struggles in the 2025 Season

As the season progressed, Ferrari faced mounting challenges, and by the time the Singapore Grand Prix arrived, expectations had been tempered significantly. The team was acutely aware that the Marina Bay circuit could potentially highlight the weaknesses of the SF-25. The track is characterized by low-speed corners, particularly those that require precision and a sharp front-end response, areas in which the SF-25 had consistently struggled. This chronic understeer issue had already been a point of contention for both Leclerc and his rival, Lewis Hamilton.

Low-speed corners, especially extended ones, have often proven to be a major hurdle for the Ferrari car. The hope heading into Singapore was that the uniformity of the corners would minimize the necessary compromises and allow the team to make the most of its performance. However, that hope soon faded as the realities of the track’s demands became evident.

A Challenging Practice Session

Friday’s practice sessions turned into a prolonged testing phase for Ferrari, with the team making constant adjustments to the car’s setup. Leclerc openly acknowledged that significant changes were necessary, particularly concerning the car’s ride height. The SF-25 had been optimized for lower ride heights, but the nature of the Singapore street circuit, with its constant bumps and unique layout, required teams to raise their cars to maintain a safety margin.

Despite the challenges presented by the street circuit, there was some rationale behind the team’s experimentation. Certain sections of the track had been resurfaced, offering smoother asphalt that could potentially aid in finding a better balance for the car. Nonetheless, the increase in ride height contributed to Ferrari’s difficulties, but the issues encountered in Singapore were multifaceted.

The team’s efforts on Friday encompassed a wide range of aerodynamic and mechanical configurations, all aimed at addressing the chronic understeer and enhancing the SF-25’s drivability. This included the decision to opt for a slightly lower downforce rear wing instead of the maximum downforce variant. While the difference in pure speed between these setups was minimal—given the relatively short straights in Singapore—the need for a compromise remained. Striking the right balance between the front and rear of the car became paramount.

On a street circuit, having a precise front end is crucial for instilling driver confidence and ensuring the car can rotate effectively. However, that precision must be carefully managed to protect the rear end, especially in a track like Singapore, which features numerous traction zones where thermal degradation can heavily impact performance.

Leclerc’s Experimentation and Challenges with Tyres

In the final moments of Q3, Leclerc attempted some last-minute experiments with the car’s setup, which he humorously described as "stupid." Faced with the chronic understeer that plagued the SF-25, he sought to load the front end as much as possible, even if it meant dealing with an increasingly twitchy rear end. "I had a lot of understeer, but for some reason, the car was still unstable and unpredictable," Leclerc admitted. For him, driving with understeer is not an ideal scenario, and yet it remained a persistent issue throughout the weekend.

Leclerc’s choice to adopt a more oversteering setup during his final Q3 run was driven by personal preference. He found it easier to manage a car that was slightly oversteering rather than one that consistently understeered. However, this choice had significant repercussions, as the SF-25 continued to exhibit its characteristic limitations, which in Italian is referred to as "coperta corta," meaning a "short blanket" that offers little room for adjustment.

Tyre Management Issues

Another significant hurdle for Ferrari in Singapore was the ongoing struggle with tyre management. The SF-25 often failed to extract the maximum performance from the softer tyre compounds compared to its competitors. This season, Ferrari drivers were consistently among the least likely to gain time between their second and third runs—a critical phase for securing optimal lap times. This trend continued in Singapore, resulting in similar lap times from Q1 to Q3.

From the outset of the race weekend, the SF-25 demonstrated difficulty in getting the tyres up to temperature, which adversely affected performance, particularly in the middle sector of the circuit where rotation and traction were crucial. The challenges were compounded by the time lost in the pit lane, making it even more difficult to recover the necessary temperature in the front tyres—a chronic issue that had plagued the team throughout the season.

Braking System Challenges

Compounding Ferrari’s struggles in Singapore were persistent brake issues that had become a recurring theme for the team this season. During practice sessions and the race itself, both Leclerc and Hamilton faced challenges with their braking systems. From lap eight onwards, Leclerc experienced an imbalance in temperature between the left and right rear brakes, which, as the race progressed, extended to the front axle as well. This imbalance highlighted a significant flaw in the team’s braking configuration, which was exacerbated by the demanding braking zones of the Marina Bay circuit.

Hamilton faced his own troubles with the front brakes, which ultimately failed during the closing laps of the race. This failure forced him to exceed track limits multiple times, resulting in a five-second penalty. The fact that both Ferrari drivers were adversely affected by the brake issues underscored the inherent design flaws and configuration challenges that the team had been grappling with. In a high-pressure environment like Singapore, where heavy braking zones are prevalent and cooling opportunities are limited, these weaknesses became glaringly apparent.

Conclusion

The Singapore Grand Prix in 2025 served as a stark reminder of the difficulties Ferrari faced throughout the season. Charles Leclerc’s hopes for a turnaround were met with harsh realities, as the team struggled with setup, tyre management, and braking issues. The challenges presented by the Marina Bay circuit highlighted the shortcomings of the SF-25 and underscored the need for significant improvements moving forward. As the team reflected on this race, it became clear that finding solutions to these persistent problems would be crucial for their success in the remainder of the season and beyond.