The higher you climb, the harder the fall. This seems like the most appropriate way to describe the first half of Scuderia Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 season. With twelve Grands Prix already behind them, the Maranello-based team arrives at the Belgian Grand Prix ready to face Round 13 of the championship, fully aware of how crucial this stage of the season could be. It is a race weekend where Ferrari will seek much-needed confirmation after the signs of progress seen during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. These expectations are focused in particular on the new rear suspension system, which is set to make its race debut at Spa-Francorchamps after being approved during the Mugello filming day. The Belgian round could prove to be a pivotal moment in what has so far been a disappointing campaign—despite early-season optimism—offering Ferrari a chance to unlock untapped potential from the SF-25 chassis. That potential is expected to emerge thanks to the combined impact of the updated suspension and newly introduced floor, which together could breathe new life into a project that has, until now, caused more frustration than satisfaction across the entire team.
Appearances Can Be Deceiving…
A closer look at the results from the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone reveals a different story from what Ferrari had hoped. The race saw seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc finish in fourth and fourteenth position respectively. On that occasion, the Ferrari SF-25 proved to be only the fourth-fastest car on the grid, even falling behind the Stake F1 Team. However, that disappointing result did not fully reflect the actual capabilities Ferrari had demonstrated earlier in the weekend. Up until Friday, there had been several encouraging signs—positive notes that had given the Maranello squad reason to hope that a turning point was near. The Italian single-seater had looked sharp and well-balanced, showing good performance on the fast-flowing corners of the Silverstone circuit. The team had also made noticeable improvements in tire management. At the very least, the SF-25 appeared capable of establishing itself as the second-fastest car on the grid behind McLaren. These positive signals brought a renewed sense of motivation and energy to the team led by Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur, who pushed hard during what would become the final development phase of the SF-25 project.
Focus Shifts to the 678
Despite a disappointing start to the 2025 season—a start that, under normal circumstances, would have led Ferrari’s technical division, overseen by Loïc Serra, to abandon the SF-25 development program in favor of focusing entirely on the 2026 car—the Italian team chose to gamble a little longer. According to sources close to Scuderia Ferrari, and as confirmed by several national media outlets, the decision to officially stop developing the SF-25 was only made recently, following the approval of the new rear suspension system. In other words, the development effort was extended all the way to the edge of the Formula 1 summer break.
From this point forward, all technical departments within Ferrari, including the engineering team led by Loïc Serra and the aerodynamic group managed by Diego Tondi, have shifted their attention toward the next project—codenamed 678. This car is being developed for the radically new set of technical regulations set to be introduced in the 2026 Formula 1 season, which will mark a new era for the sport. Aside from minor updates or small refinements—such as those already planned for Ferrari’s home race at Monza—the SF-25 will no longer receive substantial development. All budget allocations, staff focus, and technical resources are now being fully directed toward the 2026 challenger.
Only time will tell whether this strategic pivot toward the 2026 Formula One regulations has come soon enough to give Ferrari the edge it needs in the next chapter of the sport. For now, the countdown begins toward the debut of the 678—a project on which Ferrari is placing high hopes for redemption after a season that, so far, has fallen short of expectations.
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