Ferrari SF-25 on dynamic benches: positive feedback on suspensions
Yesterday at 06:58 AM
Ferrari is ready for the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship. The car is already assembled, and as far as we know, only the final details remain. Last week saw the second part of the Pirelli testing session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. An additional examination of the new tire construction, which is crucial for the Italian tire manufacturer. The Italian side made both of its main drivers available, and, just like on Tuesday, the feedback provided to the tire manufacturer was very positive. The same goes for McLaren, which also participated in these track tests with great success. We have discussed the details in our previous articles with a dedicated analysis.
Meanwhile, before diving into the heart of the matter regarding Ferrari, let’s quickly look at the team structure of the Italian side. A workgroup that will give its all in the upcoming racing season. We know well the two drivers who will grip the wheel of the cars: on one side, the now-experienced Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who has been with Maranello for seven seasons. Alongside him, the multi-award-winning Lewis Hamilton. Coming from Mercedes, he is full of ambition, convinced he can make a significant impact and elevate the historic Italian team.
A duo that excites fans, considered by many industry experts as the strongest ever. For now, we are talking about an excellent relationship: a two-way communication to support each other. A crucial bond that can work if managed perfectly. Clearly, neither of them wants to finish behind his teammate, there is no doubt in this regard. They will fight to outdo each other, as it should be. What will matter is the ability to respect each other and push one another to elevate Ferrari without only focusing on their own goals. If that happens, the result can only be optimal.
Now let’s take a look at the team structure that aims to win the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship. The team principal remains the same: the ever-jovial (or almost) Frederic Vasseur, capable of forging a united group and injecting new life into the veins of the Prancing Horse. Beside him is his right-hand man Jerome D'Ambrosio, who takes on the role of deputy team principal. Essentially, he is a "extension" of the former Alfa Romeo team boss. He will act in his place and assist him in performing all his tasks. Then there is the other Frenchman, this time from Nancy: we are talking about Loic Serra, also coming from the Brackley team. His role is clear: technical director of the chassis area.
Loic Serra is a tire and suspension expert who will have a significant impact on the team's vehicle dynamics department. The Italian Enrico Gualtieri remains the head and director of the power unit. Under his leadership, the Scuderia's engine has closed the gap it had in the past, now being considered the best in the category. The role of sporting director is in the hands of Diego Ioverno, a dedicated Ferrari man who has been with the team for a long time. A man of discipline and strong character. This brings us to Enrico Racca, head of supply chain and manufacturing.
His role is very important in Formula 1, especially in this year when two distinct technical projects (2025 and 2026) must be managed. In his case, it is about creating the best strategies for managing the entire factory and increasing staff efficiency. There's also the confirmation of Jain Ravin, who replaced Spaniard Iñaki Rueda last season and remains in charge of race strategies. Ferrari still needs to make further progress in this area. The British man of Indian origin worked hard this winter. We are waiting for results.
Another happy confirmation is the technical director of aerodynamics, Diego Tondi, who took charge of the team after Enrico Cardile's departure and skillfully corrected the SF-24 single-seater. His contribution proved decisive in the second part of the 2024 Formula 1 championship. Starting again from him was the least that could be done. Finally, we come to Marco Adurno, the vehicle's performance head, who will work closely with Loic Serra. To complete the picture, we mention two individuals who have joined the family in recent months.
On one side, Andrea Mannarino, responsible for the simulator and also a former Mercedes employee. He has been working at Maranello for just over three months, and despite the limited time, he has already shown that he knows how to make a positive impact. Another important Ferrari hire was Ben Daniels, coming from Aston Martin to strengthen the aerodynamics department. His “mission” is to improve the car’s performance through an iterative development process. He is an “idea developer,” later tested in CFD, and then analyzes the results to identify the most promising options to experiment with in the wind tunnel.
After clarifying the Ferrari team structure, it’s worth spending a few words on the present. The F1 World Championship will officially start on March 14. It will kick off at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, Australia, with the first Grand Prix of a season that is shaping up to be one of the most competitive ever. Meanwhile, as is customary, drivers, technicians, and engineers will have the opportunity to test the new cars on track. The pre-season testing session will take place in Sakhir, Bahrain. A three-day event starting on February 26. This means that in less than three weeks, Formula 1 teams will be in the Middle East.
Time is tight. The presentation of the SF-25 is scheduled for February 19, followed by an initial shake-down at the home track in Fiorano. In these days, several tests are taking place at the factory, including the so-called (in technical terms) “seven post rig” test. The top category makes extensive use of dynamic benches, advanced tools designed to replicate track surface irregularities, such as bumps and track imperfections. These devices are crucial to check the car’s correct behavior and allow for the analysis of camber variations as well.
According to the first details that have been reported by various Italian news media outlets, the suspension operation tests have been successful. This is a critical aspect to understand the car’s dynamics in detail, especially in relation to the suspension designs adopted. In the case of the Italian car, which has made targeted modifications to the kinematics, this is quite positive news, as it seems there is a first physical confirmation of the data collected in the simulator. And although this scenario will need further confirmation, also on track, the path seems to be the right one.
— see video above —
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