Ferrari returned to the third step of the podium at the Austrian Grand Prix, the first race featuring the new floor on the SF-25. Charles Leclerc’s result raises the question: how much did the upgrade impact the team’s performance? Jerome D’Ambrosio, who replaced Fred Vasseur over the weekend, provided a clear explanation.
After the tough race in Canada, Ferrari was determined to kick off the summer phase on a high. In line with its development plan, the team introduced a significant upgrade at the Red Bull Ring—a new floor that will be part of a broader package set to be completed over the upcoming rounds at Silverstone and Spa. The goal is to firmly establish itself as the second-best team behind McLaren.
In Austria, that plan appeared to pay off. Ferrari achieved its best qualifying result of the year and maintained strong pace throughout the entire 70-lap race. The SF-25s were never under threat: while still behind McLaren, they held a huge gap over Mercedes’ George Russell, the first of the chasing group. This strong result allowed Ferrari to reclaim second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
But how decisive was the new floor in delivering this result? Jerome D’Ambrosio addressed the question directly on Sky Sport. He explained that the team had managed to execute the weekend well, adding that the key is to continue introducing upgrades that improve the car step by step. Echoing Fred Vasseur’s philosophy, he stressed the importance of putting everything together across a race weekend, as it allows the team to work calmly and deliver strong outcomes.
When asked how much the new floor had helped, Jerome D’Ambrosio admitted it was hard to say. The main priority, he said, was to confirm that the simulator data matched what they saw on track. While it was a significant step forward, he acknowledged that there’s still work to do to further improve the SF-25.
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