Ferrari are aiming to shift the balance of power in their favour as Formula 1 undergoes a significant regulatory shake-up at the 2025 Barcelona Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya.
The Scuderia has endured a turbulent campaign so far, struggling to deliver consistent performance from the SF-25. Charles Leclerc remains the only Ferrari driver to secure podium finishes this season, with strong performances in Jeddah and Monaco. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has yet to reach the top three in a Grand Prix since joining the team, although he has taken two Sprint podiums—including a victory in Shanghai. A series of misjudged strategy calls, pit wall miscommunications, and the underwhelming impact of Ferrari’s aggressive front suspension design have all contributed to a frustrating start to the year. On some weekends, the SF-25 has even trailed behind the likes of Williams—an alarming sign for the Maranello-based team.
However, Ferrari did manage to reduce their deficit to Mercedes in the constructors’ standings during the Monaco Grand Prix, as the Silver Arrows left the principality without scoring a single point. Despite a solid P2 for Charles Leclerc and a P5 for Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari know they must unlock more performance through their upgrade package to remain competitive in the development race.
Following Monaco, Ferrari engineers reported that the improved drivability last seen in the SF-24 had been rediscovered in the SF-25. This renewed balance gives hope that the newly introduced front wing and rear wing updates will help Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton close the gap to McLaren and Red Bull. Among the updates, however, is a curious detail that has drawn attention in the paddock.
Ferrari have incorporated a rear endplate feature previously seen on the Haas VF-25—specifically, a distinctive ‘wavy’ design. This addition coincides with a critical rule enforcement by the FIA in Barcelona, aimed at limiting front wing flexibility. Under the updated technical directive, any front wing flap must not flex more than 3mm under static load tests, a move that could impact several teams, especially those exploiting aerodynamic deformation.
The Maranello team is reportedly hopeful that the FIA’s clampdown will particularly affect McLaren, whose car is said to have benefitted significantly from the now-restricted flexi-wing concept. McLaren currently sit 177 points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors’ standings, so any disruption to their aerodynamic advantage could help the Italian team regain lost ground.
While every team has brought new front wing designs to comply with the revised regulations, reports from the well-informed Italian website AutoRacer indicate that Ferrari’s approach represents a substantial departure from its previous iterations. The construction of the SF-25’s front wing has been overhauled, with a new carbon skin layout intended to increase rigidity across nearly all sections. Aerodynamic modifications have also been made, particularly on the outer part of the endplates—where Ferrari’s engineers appear to have adopted Haas’s undulating design philosophy.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Ferrari have taken inspiration from their American technical partners in 2025. Earlier this season, the team mirrored Haas’s airbox slot layout to enhance cooling efficiency on the SF-25. However, the technology exchange has not been reciprocal. Haas, under the leadership of Ayao Komatsu, opted not to adopt Ferrari’s innovative front suspension layout, a decision that seems to be paying off as the team holds sixth place in the constructors’ standings—outperforming expectations.
With aerodynamic development becoming ever more critical under stable regulations, Ferrari find themselves under pressure to deliver a breakthrough. Lewis Hamilton has spoken candidly about his ongoing lack of front-end confidence in the SF-25, a problem he hopes will be mitigated by the upcoming upgrade cycle. The team is banking on their new design package to improve performance—especially under the revised front wing rules—and close the gap to McLaren and Red Bull as the European leg of the championship gains momentum.
While McLaren have publicly claimed the new directive will not drastically impact the pecking order, the Italian side is betting that their latest upgrades—both in design and regulation compliance—will be enough to revive their championship ambitions heading into the heart of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
