Yesterday’s session at the Mugello circuit primarily featured the Scuderia Ferrari SF-23 on track during the Testing Previous Car (TPC) session, which had been anticipated a few days ago. Behind the wheel were three of the Scuderia Ferrari’s reserve and development drivers: Chinese Formula 1 driver Guanyu Zhou, along with Italian racing drivers Antonio Fuoco and Antonio Giovinazzi. This particular testing session served mainly as a training exercise, allowing these three drivers representing the Maranello-based team to complete laps in a modern Formula 1 car. As is well known within the paddock, Guanyu Zhou frequently participates in track sessions with the Ferrari team, and he currently does not have other scheduled racing commitments. The two Italian drivers, Antonio Fuoco and Antonio Giovinazzi, on the other hand, both compete full-time in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), and during their off weeks they remain at the disposal of Ferrari’s Formula 1 division. Antonio Fuoco mainly supports the team through his work in the simulator, while Antonio Giovinazzi is often physically present during test days and race weekends.
Today, however, it will be the turn of Scuderia Ferrari’s race drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to take to the track. Both Formula 1 drivers will be driving the SF-25, which is equipped with the much-anticipated and newly developed rear suspension component.
Yesterday: Important Data Collection; Today: True Stress Testing
Scuderia Ferrari arrived at the Mugello circuit very well-prepared for this important test event, which was organized down to the smallest detail. The Testing Previous Car (TPC) session was essentially a complementary activity, useful for putting additional kilometres under the belts of its reserve and test drivers. They completed laps in the SF-23 and also helped the team gather early feedback about the Mugello circuit conditions.
As revealed yesterday, there was also a brief but significant appearance on track by the SF-25 – the 2025 Formula 1 car – still fitted with its older rear suspension configuration. Ferrari entrusted this short but valuable test to Antonio Giovinazzi, who drove the current-season SF-25 for a brief demonstration run. Thanks to the ‘demo event’ regulation, teams are allowed up to 15 kilometres of running, which at the Mugello circuit translates to just under three full laps. Despite the short distance, these laps provided the Scuderia with an initial set of data on the car’s existing configuration, which will be vital for comparison with the information gathered from today’s crucial testing session involving the updated version.
It will be Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc who will be responsible for debuting the new mechanical component on the rear axle. The Ferrari driver will be running in the morning session and will complete the full 100-kilometre allocation permitted for filming days. He will be driving the SF-25 in a setup configuration that has been specifically developed to place the new rear suspension under mechanical stress and to maximize the unique characteristics of the Mugello circuit.
The main objective of this filming day – which in practice is functioning as a true development and validation test for Scuderia Ferrari – is to evaluate and confirm the functionality and reliability of the newly introduced rear suspension. The team is not focusing on preparing for the specific setup of the next race at Spa-Francorchamps. The engineers at Maranello opted for a medium to medium-high downforce configuration – similar to the aerodynamic setups used at circuits such as Imola and Silverstone – which is ideal for generating high cornering speeds and maximizing vertical load. These are key conditions for fully testing and exploiting the updated mechanical component mounted at the rear of the SF-25, as revealed by the Italian website autoracer.it.
In the afternoon, it will be British driver Lewis Hamilton’s turn to take the wheel of the Ferrari SF-25. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion will conduct a similar testing program as his team-mate Charles Leclerc, collecting data and providing feedback on his first sensations while driving the updated 2025 Ferrari Formula 1 car. There is particular hope – especially from Lewis Hamilton’s side – that the new suspension will improve his overall confidence and driving feeling with a car that has so far presented rear-end instability issues. The goal is to allow Lewis Hamilton to find a better connection with the car not just for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, but also for the rest of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Inside the Ferrari garage at Mugello, the team has also brought along a low-downforce rear wing specification, which remains available should the engineers decide to carry out additional comparative testing during the day. This test session remains a key moment in Ferrari’s 2025 campaign, with potential implications for the rest of the season.
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