Ferrari shakes down SF-25 war horse at Fiorano
02/19/2025 04:41 AM
Just 24 hours after unveiling its 2025 livery at F1's spectacular season launch event in London, Ferrari unveiled the power and promise of their SF-25 charger at Fiorano, with Charles Leclerc conducting the car's highly anticipated first shakedown.
After finishing hot on the heels of McLaren in last year's Constructors' Championship, the Scuderia heads into the new season with high hopes and fierce ambitions.
The SF-25 is the culmination of relentless hard work by Ferrari's technical team, a car that team principal Fred Vasseur says is "99% new" compared to its predecessor, the SF-24.
At the heart of its design evolution is a radical pullrod front suspension, a move aimed at unlocking greater aerodynamic potential and improving front-end airflow.
An Evolution From a Solid Foundation
Ferrari's Technical Director, Chassis, Loic Serra, offered insight into the engineering philosophy behind the team's latest creation.
"The SF-25 is an evolution of the SF-24, which gave us an excellent starting point to work from," Serra explained.
"Having said that, we have worked hard, changing 99% of the car, evolving its architecture to maximise performance. The pull rod front suspension is only the most obvious of many significant changes.
"We can expect the coming season to be very closely contested, with outcomes decided by thousandths of a second.
"We are all set to give it our best shot to find those gains, even the marginal ones, that can make the difference. We are looking forward to being competitive right from the very first race."
A Supremely Talented Driver Lineup
The SF-25 represents Ferrari's unyielding quest to return to championship-winning form, a goal magnified by the presence of two supremely talented drivers in the cockpit: Charles Leclerc and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Leclerc, who delivered a career-best season in 2024 with spectacular wins in Monaco, Monza, and Austin, has his sights firmly set on the ultimate prize in 2025: his maiden Drivers' Championship.
©Ferrari
The Monegasque was full of enthusiasm as he stepped into the SF-25 for its first run.
"I'm really excited about the launch of the SF-25," Leclerc said. "Every year we push hard to improve, and the whole team has been working flat out for months now.
"Last season saw a really tight fight, and we came very close to taking the title. This year, our goal is clear: we want to win the Constructors' World Championship, and my personal target is to win the Drivers' Title.
"Since Lewis joined the team, we have already been working very closely together, and I believe that his experience and approach will prove to be a source of inspiration for me.
"I am physically and mentally more than ready to face this new season, and I can't wait to get on track to do everything I can to put Scuderia Ferrari HP back on top."
A Glimpse at What Might Be
Leclerc's partnership with Hamilton is one of the most tantalizing storylines heading into the new season.
The seven-time champion's wealth of experience and competitive drive could be the perfect catalyst for Ferrari's championship ambitions.
As the SF-25 completed its first laps under Leclerc's command, it was clear that Ferrari's mission for 2025 is as bold as it is simple: to return to the pinnacle of Formula 1.
With the team's technical ingenuity and two top-tier drivers, the Scuderia is determined to write the next chapter of its illustrious history in gold.
The shakedown at Fiorano was only the beginning, but for Ferrari fans, it was a tantalizing glimpse of what might just be a championship-winning season.
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