Charles Leclerc, the acclaimed Ferrari driver, appears to be grappling with a loss of confidence as the 2025 Formula 1 season is set to commence. This uncertainty stems from the seemingly erratic performance of the brand-new Ferrari SF-25 during the pre-season testing in Bahrain. Notwithstanding a close call in the previous season’s Constructors’ title chase, Ferrari has chosen to roll the dice with a novel vehicle, as Fred Vasseur, the team’s principal, asserts.
This latest model from Ferrari, previously dubbed Project 677, has undergone a plethora of design alterations. One significant change is the transition to a pullrod front suspension layout, a staple in rival teams McLaren and Red Bull. The team’s audacious goal is to secure their first World Championship since 2008. However, the SF-25’s lackluster performance in Bahrain’s pre-season trial runs has cast a shadow over these lofty ambitions.
Insider conversations with various teams, coupled with trackside observations, have placed Ferrari in the challenging position of the fourth-best team. This speculation suggests McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes are ahead of the game as we approach the Australian Grand Prix.
Italian Motorsport.com has unveiled the frenetic behind-the-scenes activities at Maranello. The team is leaving no stone unturned in their last-minute preparations for the F1 2025’s inaugural race. Technical director Loic Serra, along with his team, is reportedly working tirelessly to fine-tune the SF-25 setup. The aim is to strike the perfect balance and unlock the vehicle’s true potential, which was somewhat hampered by the novel pullrod front suspension during the Bahrain testing.
The SF-25’s unpredictable behaviour, attributed to this suspension experiment, has caused Leclerc to question his new ride. The transition from an oversteer setup, which Leclerc favors, to an understeer has further complicated matters.
Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who has recently jumped ship from Mercedes to Ferrari, remains tight-lipped regarding the issue. Despite the murmurs, Hamilton continues to praise his new team and vehicle.
While the unseasonably chill temperatures in Bahrain may have contributed to the SF-25’s balance issues, Ferrari is racing against the clock to pinpoint the root cause. This urgency stems from concerns that the SF-25 may lag behind McLaren’s MCL39 and Mercedes’ refurbished W16 in terms of race pace.
The team consensus indicates that Ferrari has fallen behind McLaren during the winter season. Moreover, both Mercedes and Red Bull seem to have gained ground.
With the SF-25 bringing a wave of changes, the Ferrari team’s development scope compared to their rivals remains to be seen. The team’s understanding of the pullrod suspension, reintroduced after a decade, is deemed crucial for the SF-25 to reach its full potential.
This suspension type is believed to provide a significant aerodynamic boost by enhancing airflow towards the car’s complex underbody. The floor makes up a substantial portion of the car’s overall downforce in the ground-effect era. Serra’s expertise in vehicle dynamics and components, acquired during his tenure at Mercedes, is likely to be instrumental in this area.
In contrast to these challenges, the SF-25’s engine performance has raised no concerns. The team has refrained from activating the vehicle’s most aggressive power modes or running it on low fuel during the Bahrain testing. This decision was made to keep their actual performance under wraps from their competitors.
The power delivery optimization of the electrical ancillaries over a lap is currently under the purview of the electronics team. The power clipping experienced by Hamilton and Leclerc at the end of some straights is not perceived as a concern.
Concerns over the SF-25 were further stoked by Alex Brundle, racing driver and son of Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle. He expressed worries over the vehicle’s “really nasty” handling while studying Hamilton’s onboard footage from Bahrain. The SF-25’s performance, particularly its evident understeer, painted a grim picture of what lies ahead for Ferrari as the 2025 F1 season approaches.
