ANALYSIS: Ferrari deliver remarkable performance in the pit lane

Despite their tough start to the 2025 F1 season, Ferrari have so far established themselves as the leading force in the pit lane, having delivered the quickest tyre change both in Melbourne and Shanghai.

Ferrari struggled for pace at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc having lacked outright speed both in dry and wet conditions.

However, the Scuderia delivered the two fastest pit stops at the season opener in Australia . The Italian squad performed the tyre service on Leclerc's car in just 2.32s while it took only 0.06s longer for his team-mate Hamilton.

The competition was closely matched behind Ferrari, with Mercedes, Racing Bulls, Haas and Red Bull completing tyre changes between 2.43s and 2.58s.

The Maranello-based displayed a much better performance in Round 2 in Shanghai. The seven-time world champion took pole in the sprint qualifying before putting in a dominant performance in the 19-lap sprint race on Saturday to take his maiden F1 sprint victory and his first one with Ferrari. Although Ferrari were unable to challenge for podium places on Sunday, their fortunes got even worse after both Hamilton and Leclerc were disqualified for technical irregularities.

However, Ferrari's pit crew were back on form in China with another excellent performance. Leclerc made his first and last pit stop on lap 15. He had damaged his front wing in a contact Hamilton earlier at the start, but Ferrari decided not to change it when he came in.

So, his mechanics only needed 2.05 seconds to swap from medium to hard tires, since the front wing on Leclerc’s car was left with the damage the Frenchman had sustained at the start in that contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Although Ferrari suggested that the "damaged front cost 30 downforce points," the front wing was left untouched. The conventional pit stop meant that Ferrari’s crew were almost 0.3 seconds faster in China than they had been in Australia where Leclerc’s pit stop had taken just 2.32 seconds despite the tough conditions.

The second-fastest pit stop in China of 2.08 seconds for Racing Bull’s driver Yuki Tsunoda was just as impressive. Red Bull Racing ran them a close third with the team’s mechanics completing their work on Max Verstappen’s car in 2.15 seconds.

However, Leclerc’s fastest pit stop and his magnificent charge up the field went unrewarded in Shanghai, as both Ferraris were disqualified post race.