Ferrari puzzled by McLaren’s front suspension setup and gains from lowered rear-most arms. Ferrari is puzzled by McLaren’s front suspension setup.

Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Ferrari is already trailing McLaren by a significant 61 points in the F1 constructors’ standings following disqualifications for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix. The gap between the two teams is even more striking compared to last season, where only 14 points separated them. McLaren clinched their first constructors’ championship since 1998 in 2024, and now, after just two races in 2025, Ferrari faces an uphill battle to dethrone their rivals from Woking.

At the start of their title defense, McLaren has proven to be the clear leader, while Ferrari finds itself in a fierce battle with Red Bull and Mercedes to secure its place as the best of the rest. Ferrari’s fortunes have been fluctuating dramatically, shifting from optimism to disappointment day by day between the Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese Grand Prix.

McLaren’s front suspension setup has become a source of concern for Ferrari, with the Scuderia left puzzled by the significant gains McLaren has made by lowering the rear-most arms, a strategy the Maranello team had initially rejected. According to the Italian website AutoRacer, the Ferrari engineers and technicians find it a ‘mystery’ how McLaren’s MCL39 adjustment has led to such improvements.

The Italian side had previously explored a similar anti-dive front suspension setup for the SF-25 over recent months, but Maranello’s engineers ultimately decided that adopting McLaren’s approach would bring more disadvantages than benefits, leading them to abandon the concept for their 2025 car.

While Ferrari made changes to the front suspension of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s cars, opting for a pull-rod suspension instead of a push-rod, they did not go as far as McLaren. McLaren’s decision to move the suspension mechanics rearward has paid off in terms of aerodynamic performance, further complicating Ferrari’s decision not to follow suit.

It’s not just Ferrari who has noticed McLaren’s bold front suspension setup. Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Wache, referred to McLaren’s design as “very interesting,” though he also labeled it “very risky” during Bahrain testing. At the time, Pierre Wache questioned whether the setup would ultimately benefit McLaren.

Ferrari’s rejection of McLaren’s front suspension philosophy, combined with their poor start to the 2025 season, has only added to the team’s frustrations. After months of deliberation, the decision to opt against McLaren’s suspension setup seems to be a bitter pill for Ferrari to swallow.

There were moments of hope for Ferrari, especially when Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap in FP2 at Melbourne. However, Charles Leclerc could only qualify in P7, with Hamilton behind him in P8. A potential P5 finish for Leclerc in the Australian GP slipped away in the wet conditions, leaving Ferrari with finishes of P8 and P10.

The outlook appeared more promising in Shanghai when Hamilton claimed victory in the F1 Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix. However, Ferrari’s hopes faltered during the main race, as setup changes left Lewis Hamilton struggling with balance, and the team suffered an incredible first double disqualification in the second round of the 2025 Formula 1 season.