Ferrari patches issues up and the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix race on the Imola circuit brings residence a minimal of satisfaction. Sure. The Maranello workforce hits the mark within the race. Fourth place with Lewis Hamilton, sixth with Charles Leclerc. The British driver finishes simply off the rostrum. He was joyful on the finish of the race and congratulated the workforce over the radio. The Monegasque was considerably joyful, typically a bit too important because of nerves. His want to do properly is powerful, however it typically backfires. Nothing critical, in any case.
Charles, the ability of the undercutFrom Friday’s telemetry knowledge, it appeared clear that the race technique would contain only one pit cease. However on Sunday, it was hotter, so degradation knowledge needed to be revised. This made the tactic much less apparent: one cease or two? For the race’s first stint, most groups opted for the medium compound to be safer with a attainable one-stop plan, then switched to hards for the second stint.
Ferrari determined to separate methods. Charles Leclerc was given the yellow tyre, initially aligning with what the front-runners had achieved. With Lewis Hamilton, the workforce selected the laborious compound to increase the primary stint and try an overcut on the group forward to recuperate some race time. A transfer that finally labored. The medium tyre struggled throughout a center section the place it didn’t carry out properly. On this window, automotive no. 16 pitted early: lap 12. With the laborious tyres, the Ferrari was ready to try an undercut on George Russell, who was operating the medium and having hassle managing rear tyre temperatures.
Charles Leclerc’s state of affairs even alarmed the leaders. Oscar Piastri, who boxed on lap 15, managed to remain simply forward of the SF-25 automotive. McLaren knowledgeable Lando Norris that the one choice was to remain out, ready for the compound to start out working once more. The problem right here was temperature, particularly on the floor. When a compound degrades, its versatile portion shrinks and it generates much less warmth. This ends in a slight restoration in efficiency. Max Verstappen did the identical. Staying out is usually the correct name on a observe like this, the place observe place is essential.
A circuit providing few overtaking factors, very like Monaco, means the later you cease, the higher. At that time, each Max Verstappen and Lando Norris aimed to increase their stint so long as attainable to create a tyre delta within the subsequent one, the place they might have a considerably more energizing set in comparison with their direct rivals.
The Digital Security Automobile cancels Leclerc’s benefit however helps HamiltonLando Norris got here in on lap 29 to modify to laborious tyres. In the identical lap, Esteban Ocon stopped on observe. His retirement triggered race management to deploy the Digital Security Automobile. An element that benefited Max Verstappen, permitting him to pit with out risking his place to Oscar Piastri’s McLaren. This neutralisation definitely disrupted Charles Leclerc’s plans.
The Monegasque was behind a gaggle on a one-stop technique, and with the tempo he had within the SF-25, he was just about forward. However with the Digital Security Automobile, all of the benefit vanished. Additionally, Charles himself discovered it handy to cease and swap to a second set of laborious tyres, aligning with the others’ technique.
As much as that time, the restoration of Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc was going properly, however it was slowed by the restricted overtaking alternatives on the observe. Nonetheless, primarily based on tempo projections, they have been each on target to succeed in third place by lap 30. Solely the opposite Ferrari SF-25 benefited from the Digital Security Automobile, having the ability to pit and halve the time loss whereas switching to the medium compound.
Second Security Automobile: Verstappen takes benefit of a free pit stopAfter the primary Digital Security Automobile, a brand new race successfully started. Everybody was again on equal footing, whether or not they had achieved one or two stops. The aim now was to succeed in the end line with out additional stops. At this stage, there have been prolonged discussions between pit wall and drivers on methods to maximise tyre longevity.
Kimi Antonelli’s cease earlier than Piratella triggered a full Security Automobile this time. Purple Bull determined to convey Max Verstappen in so the mechanics might match a second set of latest laborious tyres, since he had sufficient of a spot to make a “free” cease. Norris did the identical, though he solely had used white-banded Pirellis left. Oscar Piastri, by selecting to not cease, managed to regain second place from his teammate, regardless that he now needed to take his older tyres to the end. There wasn’t an actual technique distinction on this case, because the Australian’s alternative was dictated by necessity.
Ferrari, possibly it was proper to not match the SoftAt Ferrari, there was a little bit of radio confusion between Charles Leclerc and his race engineer Bryan Bozzi. The pit wall had already instructed the Monegasque to return in. However sadly, the Monegasque had already handed the pit entry, and so the communication battle continued. Charles Leclerc needed the Tender tyre, however they advised him there have been 17 laps to go at that time, and the laborious tyres would maintain till the tip.
On paper, he had a set of latest Softs, having missed out on Q3 the day earlier than. The Security Automobile stayed out for a very long time, so the precise racing laps would have been 12, not 17. Nonetheless, had Charles Leclerc stopped, he would have rejoined in eighth place or worse. On a observe like Imola, the place observe place is essential. That’s why it might probably’t be stated the technique was unsuitable.
It ought to be famous that nobody gambled on the pink tyre, so it was more likely to be extremely ineffective. Nonetheless, automotive no. 16 wanted a contemporary tyre to handle the restart section higher. The used one is far tougher to convey again as much as temperature as a result of it deforms much less and generates much less vitality. Lewis Hamilton, in the meantime, did cease to suit a brand new laborious tyre.
A transfer that labored very properly for him, permitting him to push, cross Alex Albon and his teammate, after which attempt to chase down Oscar Piastri. Because the Briton himself stated in entrance of the microphones, with a pair extra laps, he may need challenged the Australian for third place.
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Could 19, 2025
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