Ferrari introduced new rear suspension at Belgian Grand Prix: analysis of performance improvements
The Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team debuted a revised rear suspension system at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, hoping to extract improved performance from the SF-25. However, challenging weather conditions and the limited availability of a single Free Practice session made it difficult for the Italian outfit to properly assess the full impact of the technical upgrade. The new rear suspension had first been tested during a filming day at Mugello just before the race weekend in Belgium.
Despite the lack of optimal testing opportunities, Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc managed to secure a strong third-place finish, closing the gap to McLaren’s pace in dry track conditions. Charles Leclerc’s performance over the weekend was particularly encouraging, suggesting the new component may have already delivered a measurable advantage.
During the first stint of the race, held on intermediate tyres due to the damp track, Charles Leclerc was able to fend off pressure from reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Ferrari’s improved straight-line speed was a key factor in this defensive effort. After switching to slick tyres, the Monegasque driver completed several competitive laps, maintaining a race pace that was not too far off that of McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.
The situation was different for British driver Lewis Hamilton, who was running a different setup and executed a strong early charge through the field. However, in the second half of the Grand Prix, he became stuck behind the Williams car of Alexander Albon and was unable to make further progress, highlighting the challenges in traffic despite his Mercedes’ setup advantages.
The advantage provided by Ferrari’s new rear suspension
As pointed out by Sky Sport Italia commentator and former racing driver Matteo Bobbi, the new rear suspension played an important role in Ferrari’s improved performance during the Spa weekend. With Red Bull Racing currently performing at its full potential only with Max Verstappen and Mercedes Formula One Team continuing to struggle with consistency, Scuderia Ferrari has seized the opportunity to consolidate its second place in the Constructors’ Championship standings.
“In my opinion, the new suspension system has brought clear benefits,” explained Matteo Bobbi, referring specifically to the performance from Charles Leclerc’s side of the Ferrari garage. “We saw the return of that qualifying magic from Leclerc that has been missing for most of this season. He looked more comfortable and confident with the car.”
According to Matteo Bobbi, one of the key improvements lies in the increased flexibility of the SF-25’s setup window: “He was able to drive a car that was less extreme in terms of setup sensitivity. The usable performance window has widened. Thanks to this new suspension, the SF-25 appeared to have a more compliant and manageable handling balance. However, Ferrari still has plenty of work to do in terms of further optimizing this development.”
Race pace comparison with top teams
An approximate comparison of race pace between Ferrari and the other top teams was also carried out to assess the effect of the upgrade in terms of lap times. “If we take the average gap during the dry phase of the race, Ferrari was around 0.27 seconds per lap slower than Oscar Piastri,” Matteo Bobbi noted. “However, if we exclude the first few laps when the track was still slightly damp, that gap drops to under two-tenths of a second.”
This level of performance represents a meaningful improvement compared to previous races. On a long circuit like Spa-Francorchamps, which stretches over 7 kilometers, such a gap is not considered particularly large. “This gap, when compared to the race winner on such a long track, is not a negative number. In fact, it’s an improvement over what we’ve seen at earlier rounds. The new suspension seems to bring an advantage of one or two tenths of a second per lap, but most importantly, it helps extend the usable setup window of the car,” he added.
Ferrari versus Red Bull and Mercedes
When comparing Scuderia Ferrari’s performance to its direct rivals, the analysis was also encouraging for the Maranello-based team. “In terms of the second-fastest car at Spa, I would place Ferrari and Red Bull Racing as very closely matched. Mercedes, on the other hand, was much further behind and continues to show significant difficulties from race to race.”
Matteo Bobbi concluded by stating that he firmly believes Ferrari has taken a clear step forward in overall performance: “I am convinced Ferrari has made tangible progress. They have now secured second place in the Constructors’ Championship not only in terms of points, but also based on performance on track.”
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