Ferrari has acknowledged a clear disadvantage in straight-line speed compared to its rivals, but the team is confident it can address the issue during the April break with key technical adjustments ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
The Italian team is no longer hiding it. After the Japanese Grand Prix, where the gap to the front-runners became obvious, team principal Frédéric Vasseur pointed to one of the SF-25’s main weaknesses, its lack of straight-line speed. It is not a new issue, but it stood out even more at Suzuka against competitors like Red Bull and McLaren.
Throughout the weekend, both Charles Leclerc and other team members highlighted the problem. The Monegasque driver, who still managed to extract the most from the car, admitted Ferrari is losing time in high-speed sections. That deficit affects race strategy and limits the team’s ability to fight further up the order.
Still, there is no sense of panic in Maranello. Instead, the team sees this as an opportunity to improve. Vasseur made it clear there is room for progress, and that will be the main focus during the April break, a key moment in the calendar that will allow Ferrari to work on targeted solutions.
The priority is to improve the car’s aerodynamic efficiency by reducing drag without hurting its cornering performance, one of its biggest strengths. The team is also expected to work on setup changes and potential upgrades aimed at increasing top speed while maintaining stability.
In modern Formula One, this kind of issue is critical. A deficit on the straights impacts not only qualifying but also race performance, where overtaking becomes much harder without a clear speed advantage. Improving in this area is essential if Ferrari wants to return to the fight at the front.
With the Miami Grand Prix in sight, Ferrari is aiming to bring a more competitive package. If it can close the gap on the straights, the overall performance of the car could take a significant step forward. For now, Leclerc remains the benchmark. His ability to maximize the car keeps Ferrari in the mix, but the team knows that to take the next step, driver talent alone will not be enough. The car needs to deliver as well.
One factor behind the deficit is believed to be a combination of drag levels and energy deployment efficiency, areas where Ferrari has struggled to match its direct rivals so far this season. Engineers are analyzing data from Suzuka and previous rounds to better understand how to unlock more performance without compromising tire management or race consistency.
The coming weeks will be crucial in defining whether Ferrari can realistically close the gap before Miami and reestablish itself as a genuine contender once again at the front this year.