Scuderia Ferrari will take to the track at the historic Mugello Circuit on Thursday, July 17, to conduct an important on-track test of a major new rear suspension upgrade on its 2025 Formula 1 car, the Ferrari SF-25, during a scheduled promotional filming day. This test session could play a pivotal role in improving the car’s performance and consistency during the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship season.
Filming day becomes key suspension test for Ferrari at Mugello
Scuderia Ferrari has officially made changes to its filming day schedule, opting to run the SF-25 on July 17 at the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany, Italy. The focus of this session will be the evaluation of one of the team’s most eagerly awaited technical developments: a revised rear suspension system. This newly designed component was developed by Ferrari’s engineering department in Maranello to address ongoing issues with aerodynamic balance and stability, particularly those that have negatively impacted the car’s cornering performance in recent Grand Prix races.
According to confirmed internal sources, this filming day will take place under the specific framework of FIA promotional regulations. These rules allow Formula 1 teams to carry out limited mileage testing—up to 100 kilometers—using special demonstration tires provided by Pirelli, which differ from standard race compounds. Despite its formal classification as a “filming day,” this session is widely viewed as a strategically important opportunity for the Ferrari team to collect valuable data ahead of upcoming races.
Both of Ferrari’s full-time race drivers for the 2025 Formula 1 season, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, are expected to take part in the test session. Their feedback will be critical as the team prepares for the next round of the championship: the Belgian Grand Prix at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. It is at this event that Ferrari intends to introduce the updated suspension system in a full race weekend environment.
Ferrari eyes Spa as turning point for 2025 season
The central objective of this Mugello test is to observe and analyze the behavior and performance of the newly upgraded rear suspension system in realistic track conditions, just a few days before Formula 1’s traditional summer break. The upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, held at the demanding and high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit, is expected to be the official debut of this suspension configuration. Spa’s layout—with its long straights, sweeping corners, and dramatic elevation changes—represents a crucial challenge for both car setup and tire durability.
This suspension upgrade is intended to provide gains in two of Ferrari’s most problematic performance areas so far in the 2025 season: high-speed cornering efficiency and long-run tire degradation. Both factors have limited the competitiveness of the Ferrari SF-25, especially when compared with the consistent pace shown by direct rivals such as Red Bull Racing and McLaren.
The Mugello Circuit, with its unique combination of wide-radius corners, significant elevation changes, and high aerodynamic load requirements, is considered by engineers to be an ideal venue for validating technical upgrades. As such, it offers a valuable opportunity for Ferrari to assess how well the suspension performs in conditions that are similar to those the team will face in Belgium. Because of this, the Italian Grand Prix venue is the perfect location to serve as a preliminary testbed for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as they prepare for one of the season’s most challenging circuits.
Ferrari aiming to revive title hopes with mid-season evolution
After a promising start to the 2025 Formula 1 season that included strong podium finishes and competitive qualifying performances, Ferrari’s results have become increasingly inconsistent. This mid-season suspension upgrade is a key step in the Scuderia’s ongoing efforts to refine the SF-25 package and reassert itself as a serious contender for the championship. The revised suspension system has been developed in parallel with in-depth simulation work, wind tunnel testing, and detailed telemetry analysis collected from earlier rounds of the championship.
The engineering team at Maranello has worked to ensure that the suspension is not only more adaptable to a wider variety of circuit characteristics, but also capable of delivering consistent grip levels and enhanced responsiveness—two areas where the previous design showed limitations, particularly under high-load and high-speed cornering conditions.
More than just a filming day: Ferrari’s real-world data mission
Even though the session is officially limited by FIA regulations regarding distance and the type of tires used, this filming day will nevertheless be a vital opportunity for Ferrari to perform an initial dynamic validation of the new suspension architecture. Engineers stationed at the circuit will work closely with their counterparts in real-time at the Scuderia’s factory in Maranello to analyze live telemetry data, review car setup configurations, and study the handling characteristics of the SF-25 as it responds to different track conditions.
This collaboration between trackside and factory engineers will enable Ferrari to make rapid adjustments and gain immediate insights into the effectiveness of the upgrade. The test will also provide both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with a valuable chance to understand how the new suspension affects the car’s balance, braking behavior, and overall drivability.
As a result, all eyes in the Formula 1 paddock will be firmly focused on Mugello for what could become one of the most consequential test sessions of the year for Scuderia Ferrari. The results of this outing may well determine whether the Ferrari SF-25 can make the leap in performance necessary to challenge at the front of the grid during the final stretch of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship season.
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