At the halfway point of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign, Scuderia Ferrari holds second place in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Despite not yet securing a single race victory, unlike their top-four rivals, the Maranello-based team has demonstrated greater consistency compared to both Mercedes and Red Bull Racing.
A range of challenges has impacted rival teams. At Mercedes, young rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has endured a difficult stretch, having failed to score championship points in five of the last six Grands Prix. The team has become increasingly reliant on George Russell to bring home strong results. The situation at Red Bull Racing is even more stark, with Yuki Tsunoda contributing just seven points so far, placing the burden of performance almost entirely on Max Verstappen’s shoulders.
Meanwhile, Scuderia Ferrari has found relative balance between its two drivers. Charles Leclerc, although visibly disappointed after qualifying for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, has generally managed to extract the maximum performance from the SF-25 car this season. Lewis Hamilton, after a frustrating start to his first season in red, has found improved form in recent events. The seven-time world champion has now recorded six consecutive top-six finishes, a signal that his adaptation to the Ferrari car is progressing steadily.
However, despite that recent upward trajectory, the 2025 campaign remains far below the lofty expectations both Ferrari drivers had at the start of the year. Still, there is cautious optimism for a stronger second half of the season, beginning with the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Ferrari’s Rear Suspension Upgrade Tipped to Be a Game-Changing Breakthrough
Scuderia Ferrari is preparing to conduct an important test of a brand-new rear suspension system, which the team believes could result in what has been described internally as a “quantum leap” in performance. This evaluation will take place next week at the Mugello circuit in Tuscany, a venue owned by Ferrari and often used for private development work.
According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Ferrari has booked the track for two full days of testing. The team will utilize one of their permitted filming days, a provision in the regulations that allows limited on-track running for promotional or shakedown purposes. Reserve drivers will also be participating during the sessions, with the primary aim being to perform comprehensive functionality checks and ensure system reliability ahead of the official race weekend at Spa.
This rear suspension upgrade is being paired with the revised floor that debuted at the Austrian Grand Prix, and together, the two components are expected to significantly enhance mechanical grip and aerodynamic consistency. Internal projections from Ferrari engineers suggest that if the suspension had already been installed at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton could have outqualified both McLaren drivers—Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
What adds further strategic value to the suspension concept is its potential relevance to the 2026 Formula 1 season. While the next generation of Formula 1 cars will be developed under entirely new technical regulations, Ferrari believes that this specific area of mechanical design may be one of the few elements that could carry over. As a result, the Scuderia is treating this suspension update not only as a short-term performance fix but also as a foundational piece of its long-term development strategy.
Upgrade Could Define Ferrari’s Path—and Influence Lewis Hamilton’s Future
If Ferrari’s new suspension design delivers the performance gains it promises, the Italian team could see benefits not only for the remainder of the 2025 season but also well into the future. For Lewis Hamilton, this presents a crucial opportunity. The British driver, who has yet to stand on a traditional Grand Prix podium in Ferrari colors, is eager to claim his first race win for the team. With 12 races still to go in the season, the dream of lifting a trophy in red remains alive—but only if the upgrades deliver on their potential.
Should Ferrari end the year without a race victory, the rear suspension overhaul could be viewed as a failure, raising concerns over the team’s technical direction. In that scenario, pressure would inevitably mount on Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur, whose current contract is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2025 season.
In parallel, speculation continues to swirl around the possibility of Christian Horner joining Scuderia Ferrari. The former Red Bull Racing Team Principal has been linked to Ferrari multiple times since his departure from Milton Keynes earlier this year. As the rumors gain traction, some within the paddock believe that Horner’s arrival at Maranello could dramatically reshape the team’s leadership structure.
However, such a move could also have significant consequences. There is a growing belief that Lewis Hamilton may consider leaving Ferrari if the team opts to appoint Christian Horner. The reason lies in Hamilton’s longstanding relationship with Frédéric Vasseur, who mentored him during his formative years in junior single-seater racing. Hamilton has spoken publicly and frequently about his deep respect and admiration for the French manager, describing him as a trusted figure in his racing journey. Should Fred Vasseur be replaced, especially by someone with whom Hamilton has a far more distant—or possibly strained—relationship, the seven-time world champion might reassess his long-term commitment to Ferrari.
Ultimately, the outcome of this high-stakes second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season could depend heavily on whether the new rear suspension system meets expectations. If it succeeds, it could give Lewis Hamilton the tools he needs to fight for victory and establish himself as a title contender in 2026. If it fails, the ripple effects could alter the future of both Ferrari’s technical leadership and Hamilton’s tenure with the Scuderia.
