The 2025 season for Ferrari's SF-25 was characterized by challenges that forced the Scuderia to confront the car's inherent limitations. One of the most notable setbacks was highlighted by a disqualification incident involving Lewis Hamilton in China, which brought attention to issues with stabilizing ride heights. "This issue absorbed significant resources," said a team source, emphasizing the urgency of finding solutions to improve performance.
In response to these challenges, Ferrari channeled efforts into revamping the car’s floor and rear suspension. The initial modifications to the floor were introduced at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which included enhancements to the diffuser. This effort was followed by additional updates unveiled in Austria towards the end of June. The team’s focus primarily rested on extending the outer edge of the floor to act as a lateral extractor. Despite these updates, the geometry maintained simplicity when compared to rival teams.
2025 saw Ferrari implementing fewer updates to the car's floor than in previous seasons, a shift attributed to impending 2026 regulatory changes and a significant budget allocation diverted towards an entirely new rear suspension. The balance of mechanical and aerodynamic development was critical, as elements of the floor were designed to synergize with the new suspension system, which made its debut shortly thereafter.
The new rear suspension was pivotal in Ferrari’s strategy to address the ride-height management dilemma. The modifications aimed to enable the car to operate closer to the ground for enhanced aerodynamic downforce without compromising stiffness. "We aimed to increase anti-pitch kinematics to stabilize the chassis under acceleration and braking," explained a technical source from Maranello. However, the updates were rolled out during the mid-season at the Belgian Grand Prix, alongside aerodynamic changes to the rear wheel flap.
Despite the revisions, it appeared that the new suspension did not resolve the ride-height issues completely. Speculation arose regarding missed race opportunities, particularly in Hungary, where adjustments in tire pressures during a pit stop for floor wear management hindered their performance. Additionally, in Singapore, the car was elevated during the weekend due to excess plank wear noted during practice sessions. Although feedback from Charles Leclerc indicated discomfort following the modifications, empirical data suggested that the changes did lead to increased downforce, allowing for a lower ride height.
Other notable updates made during the 2025 season included significant changes to the brake cooling ducts for the first time in years. Along with adaptive solutions for demanding tracks like Mexico, new rear intakes were introduced in Imola, and front intakes in Baku. This strategic focus on brake components under Loic Serra’s technical leadership represented a noteworthy evolution in Ferrari’s development priorities.
Furthermore, Brembo provided a new rear brake pad compound during the season, which Leclerc began using from the Canadian Grand Prix. Initially, rivals such as Hamilton raised concerns about this new setup but later acknowledged an improvement in brake feel post-adoption.
Ferrari's efforts also encompassed the introduction of a new high-downforce rear wing debuted in Barcelona, which complemented existing medium-downforce options. The team actively utilized its inventory of wings, including recycling older low-downforce designs during events at Spa and Monza. Overall, the 2025 technical evolution was modest in scope, leaving some, including Hamilton, hoping for a more substantial flow of advancements throughout the season.
Looking to the future, Ferrari’s endeavors in 2025 have set the stage for the crucial 2026 season, where regulatory constraints will ease, potentially allowing for a more aggressive approach to mid-season developments.