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 workforce’s Fiorano observe yesterday. Whereas it would not look radically completely different from final yr’s automobile, the 2025 machine wears some main upgrades beneath the (not fully thrilling) livery, as a result of the SF-24 had no extra room to develop.

Complicating issues, workforce principal Fred Vasseur is maintaining a tally of how aggressively the workforce develops the 2025 automobile over the course of the season. When engineers will shift over to getting ready for the foremost 2026 guidelines overhaul will rely partially 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 line with comparatively new technical director Loic Serra.

“A lot of the automobile is new, and it isn’t essentially noticeable to the attention from the surface, however it’s these components which have the largest affect,” he defined to Automoto.it. “We’ve modified lots of the inner 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 formidable improvement method final week with its MCL39).

“The principle goal with the SF-25 was to search out room to push on aerodynamic improvement, and in what would be the upgrades that can come later within the season,” he defined. “Because the technical rules are of their remaining yr, with these vehicles it is all concerning 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 workforce bounced again to overhaul Crimson 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 method with the SF-25, with hopes of taking a constructor’s trophy again to Maranello for the primary time since 2008. 

After all, 2026’s huge rule adjustments loom, and workforce principal Fred Vasseur is aware of the workforce must deal with the larger image. He is already serious about when work on the SF-25 might want to give method to subsequent yr’s automobile.

Charles Leclerc within the SF-25

Photograph by: Ferrari

“In some unspecified time in the future within the season a selection must be made between the 2026 mission and the event of the 2025 automobile, a selection that can be dictated by the place we’re within the championship standings,” mentioned Vasseur. “After the primary 4 or 5 races we’ll consider the scenario and decisions can be made on how you can distribute the accessible assets…Most likely in the summertime we’ll all be centered on 2026.”

Vasseur’s determination can be tougher if Ferrari’s in the course of a heated contest for the constructor’s title.

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