Ferrari’s Strong Start at the Italian Grand Prix: What We Learned from FP1 and FP2

The opening day of the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza has come to a close, and it’s safe to say that Ferrari have impressed everyone with their performance. Despite the usual dominance of teams like Red Bull and McLaren, Ferrari have made their presence felt, especially in the opening practice sessions. From a Ferrari one-two in FP1 to maintaining their competitive edge in FP2, it looks like the Scuderia have a lot to be optimistic about heading into the weekend.

Ferrari’s Early Dominance in FP1

The first practice session (FP1) saw Ferrari setting the pace, with Lewis Hamilton managing to lead Charles Leclerc for a Ferrari one-two. The performance was impressive, as Ferrari showed both drivers with excellent balance and competitive times right from the start. Interestingly, Ferrari had two variations of their rear wing on display during FP1. This flexibility in setup allowed them to fine-tune their cars, and it paid off, with the team showing strong speed and handling despite varying configurations.

It’s also worth noting that Ferrari is no stranger to doing well at Monza. The team traditionally performs better at this high-speed, low-downforce track, and this year appears to be no different. The combination of the team’s strong historical record at Monza and their innovative approach with rear wing setups seems to be giving Ferrari a significant edge.

The Rear Wing Controversy

Ferrari’s decision to bring two different variations of their rear wing to Monza has been one of the hot topics of the weekend. One is a standard version of the rear wing, which Ferrari has used throughout the 2023 season. The other, however, is an extreme variation that pushes the boundaries of what is allowed regarding flexibility and drag reduction.

In FP1, the two drivers—Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton—were able to compare the two rear wing setups back-to-back. Hamilton was using the more extreme version during his faster runs, which helped him lead the session. The more aggressive setup provided Ferrari with additional straight-line speed, especially down the straights at Monza. The impact on performance was evident, and Ferrari’s pace was well above the competition, with a noticeable gap between them and their rivals like Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes.

This rear wing variation is a gamble for Ferrari, as it provides better drag reduction, but it also impacts the efficiency of the DRS system. In Monza, where the DRS effect is already minimal due to the low drag configuration, this setup could either work to Ferrari’s advantage or hinder their ability to attack other drivers effectively during the race.

Ferrari’s Speed and Engine Modes

Throughout FP1 and FP2, Ferrari’s top speed was higher than that of their main rivals, including Red Bull and McLaren. The team is known for running higher engine modes or lower fuel loads during practice sessions, which gives them an edge in terms of speed. However, it’s important to note that while Ferrari’s engine modes and fuel strategy provided them with a faster car early on, there is still room for improvement, particularly when it comes to top speed.

In FP1, Ferrari’s cars were approximately 10 km/h faster than they were in Q3 during the previous year’s Italian Grand Prix. While this shows that Ferrari are pushing their cars harder, it also means there is still more room to extract performance, particularly in terms of top-end speed. Ferrari will need to continue refining their setup if they want to maintain this advantage through the rest of the weekend.

Max Verstappen, for example, was around 5 kph slower than the Ferraris in sector one, which consists of two long straights and one corner. This suggests that Ferrari’s straight-line speed, even with their higher engine modes, could be crucial to their success over the weekend.

Race Pace – Ferrari’s Strength for 2025

One of the key takeaways from FP2, and indeed from the opening day of the Italian Grand Prix weekend, is that Ferrari has demonstrated strong race pace once again. Historically, Ferrari has been better suited for race pace than qualifying pace, and 2025 is no different. Although they struggled for outright qualifying performance at times this season, they are generally more competitive when it comes to managing tires and handling long runs during races.

In FP2, Ferrari was in the top three for race pace, and while McLaren stood out for their impressive tire degradation management, Ferrari’s performance still put them in a favorable position for the race. With Monza’s high-speed nature, tire management will be crucial, and Ferrari seems to have the advantage in this area compared to some of their rivals.

McLaren, for instance, have shown significant improvements in tire degradation compared to the same time last year, making them one of the teams to watch for race pace. However, Ferrari’s consistency over long runs puts them in a solid position to challenge McLaren and other top teams once race day arrives.

DRS and the Impact of the Extreme Rear Wing

The use of Ferrari’s more extreme rear wing setup does bring some concerns, particularly in terms of DRS performance. With Monza already having minimal DRS effectiveness due to the low-drag setups used by all teams, Ferrari’s more extreme wing could reduce the effectiveness of their DRS even further. This could limit their ability to overtake in the race, especially when trying to pass other cars down the straights.

Ferrari will have to carefully balance their desire for straight-line speed with the potential drawbacks of reduced DRS efficiency. While they are gaining in straight-line performance, it could come at the cost of crucial overtaking opportunities, particularly if they are unable to make up the time during their DRS zones.

Looking Ahead to Qualifying and the Race

As we look ahead to qualifying and the race, predictions are beginning to take shape. Based on the opening two practice sessions, the order for qualifying looks to be close, with Lando Norris and Max Verstappen leading the charge for pole position. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will also be in the mix, with Leclerc aiming to build on his strong FP1 performance and Hamilton hoping to recover from his five-place grid penalty.

In terms of race pace, McLaren looks set to challenge for the win, with their strong tire management and overall speed. However, Ferrari’s consistency and strong race pace cannot be underestimated. If they can maintain their speed in qualifying and make the most of their tire management on race day, they could very well challenge for the win.

The variable weather conditions and track temperature will play a crucial role in determining how teams manage their tires and how the race unfolds. Ferrari will need to adjust their strategy accordingly, but they have shown that they are more than capable of handling whatever comes their way.

Conclusion

All in all, Ferrari’s performance on the opening day of the Italian Grand Prix weekend has been encouraging. The team’s strong showing in FP1 and FP2, along with their innovative rear wing designs, puts them in a good position to challenge for top spots throughout the weekend. While there are still questions about DRS efficiency and tire management, Ferrari has the potential to be a major contender in both qualifying and the race.

As always, much can change over the course of a race weekend, but Ferrari fans have plenty to be optimistic about as we head into qualifying and the race itself.