Ferrari has requested Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to lift and coast to address a critical issue with the SF-25’s ride height for F1 2025.
This assertion comes from Sky F1 reporter Ted Kravitz, who suggests that this strategy is helping the team avoid the “nightmare” of making significant compromises in the car’s setup.
Lifting and Coasting to Tackle SF-25 Challenges
Ferrari has been grappling with ride height problems on the SF-25 since the season’s beginning, discovering that the car was too close to the ground during initial practices at the F1 2025 opener in Australia.
Hamilton faced disqualification a week later in China due to excessive wear on the skid blocks, despite converting pole position into a sprint race victory in Shanghai.
Hamilton acknowledged during the next round in Japan that the team had to raise the car’s ride height to mitigate the issue, adversely impacting overall performance.
Recent Improvements from Leclerc and Hamilton
Ferrari’s competitive standing has recently improved, with Leclerc finishing on the podium in three of the last four races, including the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend.
In that race, Hamilton achieved his best finish as a Ferrari driver in fourth place, praising the impact of the Scuderia’s latest upgrades.
Team Strategy to Protect Skid Blocks
Kravitz mentioned that Ferrari drivers have been instructed to lift and coast towards the end of straights to “protect” the skid blocks from excess wear and reduce the chance of further disqualifications.
This driving technique involves easing off the throttle before a corner, allowing aerodynamic forces to naturally slow the car before braking, and also aids in fuel conservation and tire management.
Addressing Ride Height Concerns
The lifting and coasting technique slighlty reduces aerodynamic load on the car, enabling it to glide smoother into corners while protecting the skid blocks at higher speeds.
This approach also minimizes any need to adjust the ride height through problematic setup changes, which significantly impacts performance in this ground-effect era.
Updates and Future Expectations
On Sky F1, Kravitz elaborated that: “Charles was told [by race engineer Bryan Bozzi] to lift and coast at all points. [Leclerc replied]: ‘I am, Bryan! I am!’ – a likely new classic team radio moment in F1.”
He further emphasized that this lifting technique is crucial to manage ride height issues that led to Hamilton’s disqualification during the Chinese Grand Prix. Despite challenges, Ferrari is evolving into a consistent podium contender.
Looking Ahead for Ferrari
As noted by PlanetF1.com, Ferrari plans to enhance its performance with an upcoming rear-suspension upgrade at the Silverstone British Grand Prix, aimed at resolving ride-height issues and allowing more aggressive setup alternatives.
Hamilton’s last win for Mercedes came at the previous British Grand Prix, breaking a lengthy winless streak of 945 days.
