Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 campaign is officially underway, with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc getting their first taste of the highly anticipated SF-25 during a shakedown at the team’s iconic Fiorano test track. The unveiling of Ferrari’s new livery, which took place at the F1 75 Live event in London, set the stage for the team’s next chapter, and the first on-track run with the SF-25 only added to the excitement surrounding the Scuderia’s new design.
The SF-25 is a significant step forward in Ferrari’s quest for performance, featuring a clear departure from its previous iteration. Leclerc was the first behind the wheel of the new car, with Hamilton taking over shortly after, marking their initial test as the team gears up for the upcoming season. While the team’s appearance at the F1 75 event in London stole the spotlight, the real story was in Maranello, where Ferrari showed off its revamped SF-25 to the world.
Bold Changes to the SF-25: Suspension Overhaul and Design Evolution
The most striking change to the SF-25 is the switch from a push rod to a pull rod front suspension. This visible modification aims to open up more opportunities for aerodynamic development throughout the season. Ferrari has admitted that last season’s SF-24 chassis had reached its limit in terms of development, which led to the decision to overhaul the car’s front suspension design in the hopes of unlocking more potential.
Loic Serra, Ferrari’s chassis technical director, shared his insights into the team’s work on the SF-25: “The SF-25 is an evolution of the SF-24, which gave us an excellent starting point to work from. Having said that, we have worked hard, changing 99% of the car, evolving its architecture to maximize performance. The pull rod front suspension is only the most obvious of many significant changes.”
Serra’s comments emphasize Ferrari’s focus on improving their car’s aerodynamics and performance. With the competition for the 2025 title expected to be fierce, Ferrari aims to push every boundary and maximize even the smallest performance gains to be competitive from the very first race of the season.
Ferrari’s Drive for Speed: Continuity and Innovation
While the SF-25 may look visually different, team principal Fred Vasseur insists that the new car is an evolution of its predecessor. The key focus for the team is on creating room for greater aerodynamic development and improving overall performance. Vasseur, who recently arrived from Mercedes, acknowledges the challenge of making such significant changes while still retaining the fundamental performance concept of the SF-24.
“The main concept of the SF-25 is really about finding some space to boost the aerodynamic development and the development in general,” Vasseur explained. “The SF-24 finished reasonably strong, but it was becoming more and more difficult to develop and find performance. So, we had to sort of find space to boost the development rate.”
Despite the substantial changes made to the SF-25, Ferrari is not expecting a steep learning curve. Instead, Vasseur hopes that the car will benefit from a higher development rate compared to last year’s car, giving the team the edge they need to compete at the top of the grid.
“The car is more of a continuity of the previous car. We’ve changed most of the parts on the car, but the main performance concept remains the same,” Vasseur continued. “So, I actually don’t expect a learning curve that is steeper than last year. Hopefully, the development rate will be boosted compared to what it was end of last season.”
Ferrari’s Championship Ambitions: A Fresh Start with Renewed Hope
The pressure is on Ferrari to build on its solid performance from last season, where it finished strong and gave fans hope for a title push in 2025. Leclerc, who was the highest-scoring driver after the summer break, will be looking to mount a serious challenge for the championship this year. With the team’s focus on aerodynamic improvements and performance optimization, the SF-25 could be the car that propels Ferrari to its first title in over a decade.
As the first test laps of the SF-25 show, Ferrari’s ambitions for 2025 are clear. With a renewed focus on innovation, continuity, and development, the Scuderia will be aiming to challenge the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes for dominance in Formula 1. Fans and analysts alike are eagerly watching to see if the SF-25 can deliver the performance Ferrari needs to compete at the highest level and bring home the championship once again.
Looking Ahead: A Challenging Season for Ferrari
The 2025 season promises to be another highly competitive year in Formula 1, with teams like Red Bull and Mercedes continuing to push the limits of performance. Ferrari’s SF-25 represents a bold step forward, but the true test will be whether it can deliver results on track. As Leclerc and Hamilton continue to settle into their new roles with the team, Ferrari’s success will depend on how quickly they can unlock the potential of their new car.
With the start of the season just around the corner, all eyes will be on Ferrari as they look to capitalize on the changes made to the SF-25 and take the fight to their rivals. It’s a new chapter for Ferrari, and the stakes have never been higher.
