“On paper, the new car is very good.” This is how Ferrari team principal Fréd Vasseur recently described the 2025 car. After a 2024 season that was inconsistent but exceeded expectations (with the Scuderia fighting for the title until the final race), the new car will need to consistently compete for pole positions and victories and, hopefully, contend for the world championship. To meet these expectations, next year’s car is progressing smoothly and is reportedly at an advanced stage of development, on schedule. Some components are already in production, the chassis is said to have passed crash tests, and the power unit is being tested on the bench to refine mappings, hybrid management, and reliability in a year of regulatory stability before the 2026 revolution.
Only 1% in common with the SF-24
As reported by some sources, the new car, known internally as Project 677, will differ significantly from the SF-24 to overcome the limitations of its predecessor, whose development had nearly plateaued, and to address performance shortfalls. Among the major differences between the designs is a new chassis, redesigned to reposition the driver further back and accommodate a new front suspension. Like in the past, this will adopt a pull-rod layout, chosen not for mechanical benefits but for aerodynamic and weight distribution advantages. Additionally, a new, shorter, and slimmer gearbox housing will enable the engine to be repositioned further back, altering the weight distribution and allowing for a reconfiguration of the rear suspension mechanisms (retaining the pull-rod layout) to maximize traction and improve tire management.
Not everything is being discarded…
The 2025 car will also retain some features of the SF-24, continuing certain design philosophies from the past. Among the elements likely to be carried over, based on both reports and logical assumptions, is the front wing concept (the final 2024 spec proved highly effective). This includes its attachment to the nose, which remains rounded and connects to the second flap of the wing rather than the main plane. This configuration, with a hollowed lower portion of the nose, directs a greater airflow beneath the car, enhancing downforce from the floor while reducing drag. The front wing philosophy aimed at generating an outwash effect—redirecting airflow outward from the front tires—will also be preserved. The car’s central section will feature a triangular airbox, reducing the vehicle’s frontal area and drag while maintaining clean airflow to the rear. This design is made possible by progress in managing the air intake required to power and cool the engine.
Ferrari is thus making every effort to provide its two drivers with a competitive car in 2025: for Lewis Hamilton to end his career on a high note and pursue an eighth title, and for Charles Leclerc to unleash his talent and compete on equal terms with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The Prancing Horse is determined to be ready to break the championship drought that has lasted since 2008—a feat narrowly missed in 2024 due to fine margins.
