Ferrari believe SF-25 solves their high-speed rear downforce issues
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Lewis Hamilton Teams Up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in Pursuit of Eighth Formula 1 Title as Scuderia Eyes First Champion Driver Since 2007
Ferrari, a name synonymous with passion and pride, enjoys unwavering support from the entire nation of Italy. The legendary Scuderia has not had a champion driver to celebrate since Kimi Raikkonen's triumph in 2007, which prevented Lewis Hamilton from claiming his first title during his rookie season with McLaren. Since then, Ferrari has been without a championship-winning driver, and they have not secured the Constructors' Championship since 2008. However, in the 2024 season, Ferrari finished a strong second, narrowly losing to McLaren by just 14 points in the Abu Dhabi season finale. With the arrival of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc, Ferrari arguably now boasts one of the strongest driver lineups on the grid as they target a return to the top.
At Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit on Wednesday, over 5,000 fans gathered to witness Hamilton and Leclerc take the SF-25 for a spin. The Monegasque nearly broke the track record with a blistering 56.06-second lap, showcasing the car’s potential during the shakedown. Hamilton, though, was 0.8 seconds slower than Leclerc, marking his first laps in Ferrari's 2025 Formula 1 car. This session was an early opportunity for the team to assess whether minor adjustments made to the SF-24 would yield results before the official pre-season testing in Bahrain, scheduled for February 26-28.
The SF-25, Ferrari's 2025 F1 car, only introduces a handful of changes compared to the 2024 version. Despite this, sources such as Motor Sport Magazine report that Ferrari’s management is optimistic that they have addressed the rear downforce issues that plagued the SF-24 at high speeds. By improving the car’s airflow path, Ferrari believes they have successfully removed the bottleneck that hindered their performance in fast corners.
While the 2024 Ferrari was often the fastest car on the grid in low-speed corners, its main weakness lay in high-speed turns. To remedy this, Ferrari has made subtle but crucial updates to the SF-25, including the adoption of a pull-rod front suspension system and a rearward repositioning of the cockpit. These changes are designed to improve the car’s overall aerodynamic efficiency and handling in high-speed situations by optimizing airflow through the suspension and towards the car’s floor. The most notable benefit is an enhanced ability to manage the car's front ride height, providing better control in high-speed corners.
The Fiorano shakedown offered Ferrari an early opportunity to test their systems, and the team enjoyed a smooth day with the SF-25. However, this session wasn't conclusive, and Ferrari is now eagerly anticipating the Bahrain test, which will be crucial in determining where the SF-25 stands compared to its competitors. The Bahrain pre-season test will provide a much clearer indication of whether Ferrari's updates to improve high-speed cornering have been successful. While the test won’t have a direct impact on the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, it will play a pivotal role in shaping the team's performance ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix just seven days later.
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