Ferrari’s Technical Director, Loic Serra, has recently shed light on the revolutionary changes made to the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car model. Despite narrowly missing the Constructors’ Championship title by just 14 points last season, Ferrari has refused to rest on its laurels, opting instead to push the envelope with an ambitious overhaul of the SF-24, now reborn as the SF-25.
Contrary to expectations, Ferrari has not merely refined the SF-24 but introduced a completely revamped SF-25. The vehicle made its debut run on the track this past Wednesday, unveiling a host of changes, the most prominent of which is a shift in the front-suspension layout. For the first time in a decade, the team has moved from a pushrod to a pull rod front suspension design.
The reasoning behind this drastic alteration was elaborated on by Serra, who currently oversees chassis development at Ferrari. He revealed that the primary objective with the SF-25 was to “find some space to boost the aerodynamic development and the development in general.” This decision was prompted by the challenges the team faced in enhancing the performance of the SF-24.
Despite the significant alterations to the SF-25, which include the replacement of most parts, Serra reassures that the core concept of the car remains unchanged. This continuity should offset any concerns about Ferrari needing to adapt to their new F1 car in the initial rounds of the 2025 season.
“Although a majority of the parts have been changed, the main performance concept remains the same,” Serra explained. “So, I don’t anticipate a steeper learning curve than last year. Expectations are high that the development rate will be significantly improved compared to the end of last season.”
The change in front suspension is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the modifications made on the SF-25. Ferrari’s fervent hope to break its title drought in the final year of the current regulations has spurred the team to instigate these changes to fast-track development.
Serra added, “On these cars, the details are crucial. The front suspension is just the visible part of the iceberg. Most of the parts are new on the car, and it’s not necessarily the most visible parts that have the biggest influence. So yes, the devil is indeed in the details.”
The first taste of the Ferrari SF-25 on the track was given to Charles Leclerc on Wednesday. The new car represents a fresh start for Ferrari and a clear signal of the team’s relentless pursuit of performance improvement and championship success.