Ferrari 677: Loic Serra's key changes to optimize SF-25 and excel also in qualifying
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The first Ferrari 677 single-seater is currently being assembled in the Racing Division area overseen by sporting director Diego Ioverno. After passing the chassis crash test for homologation on the first attempt, the car destined for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is coming together at the Ferrari Racing Department in Maranello. According to team principal Fred Vasseur, the new car will have nothing in common with the SF-24, which finished second in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship with five wins.
The 677, the project's codename, was finalized by the Italian working group following directions from Enrico Cardile before he left Ferrari to join Aston Martin.
Ferrari Head of Aerodynamics Diego Tondi, Chief Project Engineer Fabio Montecchi, and Head of Vehicle Performance Marco Adurno have designed a single-seater that is fundamentally different from the SF-24, starting with its conceptual foundations. The new chassis has been lengthened at the front to move the sidepod inlets further away from the front wheels, without pushing the sidepods backward. Since the wheelbase will be the maximum allowed by regulations, namely 3,600 millimetres, the gearbox will feature a shorter carbon casing to achieve the weight distribution required by the rules, with a different layout for the key components of the car.
It is no longer a secret that the SF-25, which will most likely the name of the new Ferrari F1 car, in keeping with recent tradition, will adopt a pull-rod front suspension layout, as explained in this article. This configuration allows the suspension kinematics to sit lower, improving the car’s center of gravity. The decision has been approved by Loic Serra, the new technical director, who has been active at Maranello since October.
Loic Serra, brought in by Frederic Vasseur, wasted no time. While the former Mercedes engineer will primarily focus on the 2026 car, he has paid close attention to the 677. This car aspires to fight for both world titles, aligning with the expectations of Ferrari president John Elkann, who demands improved results in 2024.
As an expert in vehicle dynamics, Loic Serra has applied his expertise to the Ferrari, not by altering the kinematics but by refining suspension components (torsion bars and dampers). His aim is to maximize the potential of the new Pirelli tires, designed to reduce overheating, broaden the operating window, and allow for more aggressive race stints with less “tyre management.”
The SF-24 was gentle on tires during races but struggled to perform well in terms of qualifying pace, often handicapping Ferrari on the starting grid due to difficulty bringing tires up to the right temperature at the beginning of the lap. The Italian side frequently faced challenges in the first sector or, when pushing hard during warm-up laps, saw Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz lose grip in the final sector of the lap.
The design choices for Project 677 and the modifications requested by Loic Serra aim to change the baseline behavior of this highly anticipated Ferrari, set to debut on track at the Fiorano circuit on February 19. The SF-25 will feature a darker livery, which will be unveiled the day before during a collective launch event in London celebrating F1's 75th anniversary.
— see video above —
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