Ferrari explains the changes to its 2025 F1 car

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc took Ferrari’s new SF-25 out for a shakedown on the staff’s Fiorano monitor yesterday. Whereas it would not look radically completely different from final yr’s automobile, the 2025 machine wears some main upgrades below the (not totally thrilling) livery, as a result of the SF-24 had no extra room to develop.

Complicating issues, staff principal Fred Vasseur is keeping track of how aggressively the staff develops the 2025 automobile over the course of the season. When engineers will shift over to getting ready for the key 2026 guidelines overhaul will rely partly on whether or not the SF-25 places Ferrari able to win.

The headline replace from the SF-24 to the SF-25 is a change in entrance suspension, from push-rod to pull-rod. That is simply the “tip of the iceberg,” although, in response to comparatively new technical director Loic Serra.

“A lot of the automobile is new, and it is not essentially noticeable to the attention from the skin, nevertheless it’s these components which have the largest affect,” he defined to Automoto.it. “Now we have modified most of the inside elements, however the philosophy is identical. “

Lewis Hamilton shaking down the SF-25 at Fiorano

Photograph by: Davide Cavazza

As Serra explains, final yr’s SF-24 had no extra room for enchancment. The suspension shift, together with what seeming allusions to a revamped ground, ought to give the Scuderia house to battle McLaren (which unveiled its personal bold growth strategy final week with its MCL39).

“The principle goal with the SF-25 was to seek out room to push on aerodynamic growth, and in what would be the upgrades that may come later within the season,” he defined. “Because the technical laws are of their remaining yr, with these vehicles it is all in regards to the particulars. “

These particulars could make a giant distinction, as Ferrari discovered when it suffered a efficiency dip after a poor-performing midseason improve final yr. The staff bounced again to overhaul Purple Bull and sneak inside 14 factors of stealing the constructor’s championship from McLaren. Serra calculated the common deficit final yr at 30 milliseconds, prompting an all-in strategy with the SF-25, with hopes of taking a constructor’s trophy again to Maranello for the primary time since 2008. 

In fact, 2026’s huge rule modifications loom, and staff principal Fred Vasseur is aware of the staff must concentrate on the larger image. He is already fascinated about when work on the SF-25 might want to give solution to subsequent yr’s automobile.

Charles Leclerc within the SF-25

Photograph by: Ferrari

“Sooner or later within the season a selection must be made between the 2026 mission and the event of the 2025 automobile, a selection that will likely be dictated by the place we’re within the championship standings,” mentioned Vasseur. “After the primary 4 or 5 races we are going to consider the scenario and decisions will likely be made on easy methods to distribute the accessible sources…In all probability in the summertime we are going to all be targeted on 2026.”

Vasseur’s resolution will likely be more durable if Ferrari’s in the midst of a heated contest for the constructor’s title.

“I count on a season just like the earlier one, with 4 groups able to profitable races and aiming for the championship,” mentioned Vasseur. “It will likely be a great battle.”