Maranello is buzzing with excitement over one of the most secretive and ambitious projects in Ferrari’s recent history: Project 677. This single-seater, set to compete in the next Formula 1 World Championship, could be the key to bringing the title back to the Italian team. However, behind this veil of secrecy lie some of the boldest innovations ever attempted in the sport.
Ferrari – What is Project 677 hiding?
According to the few details emerging from sources close to the Maranello team, Ferrari is adopting an almost obsessive level of secrecy to protect the technical solutions that could make a difference on the track in the 2025 Formula 1 season. It is said that discussions take place only in meetings restricted to a select group of engineers, where aerodynamic and mechanical innovations could already have a significant impact from the very first races.
A source close to the team hinted that the chassis of the new single-seater represents a drastic evolution compared to the past, with an entirely new concept and a weight distribution designed to optimize both straight-line speed and cornering stability. As reported by the Italian media, the source revealed that they could not go into details but suggested that the key would be tire management, indicating that the car could be particularly versatile on every track.
Suspension and brakes: the key areas of Project 677
One of the aspects the Ferrari technicians and engineers have focused on the most is the suspension system. From what has leaked, it seems the team is experimenting with an innovative architecture. This new configuration will allow the Maranello team side to better manage tire wear, keeping the car competitive throughout the race, the internal source explained, according to the Italian media. This improvement could make a difference in terms of grip, especially during the crucial tire warm-up phase.
Brakes have also been the subject of significant innovations. Ferrari has developed a system that allows for reduced response times, improving braking performance without compromising the car’s overall balance. Brake cooling has made significant progress, the insider added, emphasizing how this detail could prove crucial on particularly demanding tracks.
Aerodynamic solutions and regulations: the real trump card?
The true winning asset of Project 677, which is now known as the SF-25, seems to be aerodynamics. Rumors suggest that the Maranello team has carefully explored the gray areas of the technical regulations, finding solutions capable of providing an advantage without breaking the rules. Ferrari is at the limit, but remain within the regulations, the source revealed. Although this strategy is not new, Ferrari may have found a way to push further, with an approach similar to the one McLaren adopted with flexible wings.
One particularly interesting detail concerns downforce: the Ferrari 677 could have significantly greater efficiency on the straights compared to its competitors without sacrificing cornering load. It is said that the Maranello team has conducted an aerodynamic flow study that no other team has explored at this level, and the car’s design is markedly different from the 2024 single-seater. The Ferrari engineers have solutions that others haven’t even considered, stated an aerodynamic department technician, although no one is of course willing to provide precise details. Secrecy in this area remains absolute.
The importance of starting with an advantage
In a competitive championship like Formula 1, starting with a car that is already competitive in the first races can be decisive. Ferrari’s main goal is to begin the season with a margin of advantage that can put pressure on their rivals. This would allow the Italian side to continue developing the car throughout the 2025 Formula 1 season while competitors are forced to chase.
An early-season advantage could give the Maranello team the time to further refine the car, creating a virtuous cycle of updates that would make it difficult for others to close the gap. For Ferrari, starting on the right foot is not just an option—it is a necessity to maintain control of the season, while also being able to focus on the project for the 2026 Formula 1 season and a car that will be based on completely new rules and regulations.
But what do we really know about the Ferrari SF-25? Here is the only certainty: nobody knows practically nothing. Despite circulating rumors, the level of secrecy surrounding Project 677 has worked to perfection. The leaked information is so vague that even insiders struggle to distinguish reality from speculation. And that is exactly what Ferrari wants: to confuse rivals and keep its cards hidden until the last moment.
In a world like Formula 1, where every detail is crucial, those who know something truly important do not hold back from leaking it. We recently saw this with the announcement of Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari: despite the secrecy that was supposed to be maintained, someone decided to break the embargo to secure the scoop. If there were concrete information about a technical revolution aboard the Ferrari 677, someone would have already published it.
This is why, when discussing the Ferrari SF-25, one must be cautious with rumors. Those who claim to know actually know nothing. And if a journalist really had inside information, they wouldn’t hesitate to publish it. Ferrari, on the other hand, has managed to keep its shroud of mystery intact, and only the car’s debut on the track will reveal what this project truly has in store for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign.
— see video above —
Source: formulacritica.it
