Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari’s car set-up worked best in China but the team hasn’t been able to recreate the same balance since.
He took pole position for the sprint race in Shanghai and won, but struggled to sixth place in the grand prix behind team mate Charles Leclerc. Both Ferraris were then disqualified for different technical infringements: Leclerc’s was underweight while Hamilton’s plank was excessively worn.Sprint races are run to shorter distances than grands prix, which means cars require less fuel, therefore carry less weight and can run lower ride heights. Ferrari’s inability to run a ride height which suited the car on the smooth, recently resurfaced Shanghai track may therefore explain the team’s slump in performance since the start of the season.
Hamilton admitted the team was not able to recreate the set-up which delivered his Shanghai sprint race win. “The direction that I pushed the car and the set-up worked well in China,” he told Sky ahead of last week’s race, “and then we had to pull back on some things and we’ve not been able to get there since.
“It’s always the same thing. If you go down there the pit lane probably everyone wants more rear [grip]. The more rear you have, the faster you go.
“All the years that I won, if you look all the years of all the successful drivers, they have a stable rear end and that’s what we need to work towards.”
However Hamilton remains confident the team’s car has the potential to become competitive. “The fact is, I think we do have a good car when everything comes together,” he said.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“That’s tyre temperatures, when we’re getting the best out of the tyres, getting the best out the floor, front wing and out of the engine and of the drivers and we’re comfortable and we feel confident. I think we you’ve seen moments [like] China, you’ve seen Charles getting onto the podium.
“So clearly there is potential there. But tapping into it each weekend is really, really difficult.
“Consistency is key. Processes are really key. And there’s areas that would just not great in at the moment and we’ve got on all areas. Everything needs to improve across the whole board. I need to improve, everybody needs to improve and that’s what we’re working on.”
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a daily email with all our latest stories - and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
- Antonelli was tiring from home race at Imola attention by Friday – Wolff
- Ferrari struggling to recreate set-up which “worked well” in Shanghai – Hamilton
- Verstappen told Red Bull to use Tsunoda before “hold him up” call
- ‘Saturdays have been mine for years but for some reason it’s drifted away’ – Norris
- “Plan C?”: Why McLaren only got their strategy right for one driver at Imola
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
22nd May 2025, 13:45
Probably because you aren’t in China any more.
grat
22nd May 2025, 13:59
I’m sure that didn’t occur to anyone within Ferrari.
Kringle
22nd May 2025, 15:08
Probably because your car isn’t below the ride height limit anymore?
anon
22nd May 2025, 15:55
As noted in the article, we know that the team also changed the set up between the sprint race and the main race, and that did include changing the ride height.
Additionally, given the shorter duration of the sprint race, we know that the teams run lower ride heights (partially because the lower fuel weight allows them to run lower, and partially because they can accept a higher wear rate due to running fewer laps).
The car could, and as far as we know, was, in a legal configuration for the sprint race, but wasn’t when they changed it for the main race.
From what has been said in the press, the allegation is that the car doesn’t work well on high fuel due to problems with the rear suspension, but does seem to work better on medium fuel loads (which is why the car seems to work better in the middle stints of a race).
Given that the Chinese sprint race would have been more similar to that condition, it would have likely been better for Ferrari. Added to that, it seems the car currently works better at front limited circuits such as China (both drivers are apparently not happy with the handling balance, but it seems the conditions masked some of those problems in China during the sprint race).
Edvaldo
22nd May 2025, 17:23
It must be the location.
MG1982 (@mg1982)
22nd May 2025, 18:52
“I’m doing purple sectors everywhere. So much speed! We’re winning the Sprint again! That Chinese GP set-up, Chinese GP set-up man….!!!
Must be the Chinese GP Sprint set-up.
Let’s add that to the words of wisdom.”