Ferrari shows progress and unlocks performance with less extreme setup at Spa-Francorchamps

During the second day of Formula 1 action at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix weekend, which took place at the iconic and demanding Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the Ferrari team implemented several targeted and strategic adjustments to the SF-25 single-seater ahead of the second qualifying session. These technical changes primarily involved alterations to the car’s ride height and overall suspension stiffness, as well as some minor but significant tweaks to the overall aerodynamic load. The latter intervention was introduced as a preventative measure in anticipation of the potential rainfall expected to arrive on Sunday. Notably, however, the rear wing that made its debut on Friday remained unchanged, allowing Ferrari to maintain the same levels of top speed as observed during the initial day of on-track running.

F1, setup changes boost SF-25 performance and close the gap to McLaren

The revised mechanical and aerodynamic configuration on the Ferrari SF-25 helped significantly reduce the performance gap to the McLaren MCL39 across all three timing sectors of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Most of the teams on the Formula 1 grid, in fact, decided to move toward more balanced compromises in their car setups compared to what was used on Friday, and Ferrari was no exception in this trend. The Italian outfit continued to dominate the first sector, which features long straights and high-speed corners, although its performance advantage over the papaya-colored McLaren cars—driven by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris—was visibly smaller than what had been recorded in the previous session.

In the third and final sector, McLaren actually managed to outpace Ferrari. The British team’s higher levels of aerodynamic downforce allowed its drivers to exit Turn 15 more efficiently and maintain greater stability under braking through the tight final chicane that leads back onto the main straight. However, in the middle sector—where Ferrari had struggled the most on Friday—the SF-25 showed marked improvement and managed to close the gap to the MCL39 cars, clawing back a few crucial tenths of a second. These gains ultimately made a big difference in the overall lap time and demonstrated that the updates and setup changes made by Ferrari were working effectively.

Ferrari’s car balance had already been quite strong on Friday, but with Saturday’s changes, the team managed to significantly improve the SF-25’s cornering speeds—an area where it had previously fallen short, particularly when compared to McLaren. While a noticeable performance gap to McLaren still remains in certain types of medium and high-speed corners, it is important to note that the MCL39 generates much more aerodynamic downforce at circuits where an extreme setup compromise is required to achieve optimal performance. On this front, Ferrari appears to have made a significant step forward, as its setup window now seems to offer more flexibility and adaptability across different track conditions.

With the previous version of the SF-25, Ferrari’s engineers would have likely struggled to find the right balance and compromise between lateral grip in the corners and maximum top speed on the straights—and quite possibly would have failed to achieve that balance altogether. Now, with the revised and updated car package introduced in recent races, there is reason to believe that Ferrari can achieve optimal grip and handling balance at high-speed corners on other circuits as well. Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc himself confirmed this impression by revealing that he had run a far less extreme setup that was more comfortably within the car’s ideal performance window.

This development aligns perfectly with what the team and technical staff had expected following the introduction of the new floor and the updated rear suspension system. As such, Ferrari’s Saturday performance at Spa-Francorchamps should be viewed as a distinctly positive step in the team’s development trajectory. For example, by the time Charles Leclerc reached the braking zone at Turn 5, he had built up an advantage of three and a half tenths of a second. However, between that point and Turn 14, the Ferrari SF-25 car lost five tenths of a second to McLaren—highlighting just how strong and efficient the MCL39 still is in specific sectors of the circuit, particularly those requiring high downforce and excellent stability.

Ferrari still trails slightly but the development path with the SF-25 seems to be the correct one

There remains, objectively speaking, a noticeable performance deficit in certain areas of the circuit. Ignoring this would be misleading, as the Ferrari SF-25 is still losing approximately two and a half tenths of a second just by the time it reaches the entrance of Turn 12. Nonetheless, the SF-25 was the fastest car in terms of straight-line speed during Saturday’s sessions at Spa-Francorchamps, which could become a major asset if the Grand Prix on Sunday takes place in dry conditions. However, weather forecasts for the race have become increasingly unfavorable, with the probability of rain now rising significantly.

One final clarification is necessary to better understand yesterday’s overall performance context. Based on the available telemetry and timing data, Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen would likely have beaten Charles Leclerc’s best lap in the SF-25 with a clean flying lap. The gap would have been very narrow, possibly just a few hundredths of a second, but the Dutch driver probably would have edged ahead. The fact that the two cars were so close in terms of qualifying performance is an encouraging sign for Ferrari, especially when taking into account Max Verstappen’s well-known strength in delivering near-perfect single-lap performances.

This achievement is even more impressive when considering the latest upgrades that Red Bull Racing has introduced to its car. It underlines the fact that Ferrari has also made a meaningful step forward in terms of overall car performance. And this progress could become even more significant at the next round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship in Budapest, provided the Maranello-based team manages to optimize the integration between the revised rear suspension and the newly introduced floor. This is the clear technical and developmental objective moving forward, as echoed in the very positive and optimistic remarks made by Charles Leclerc after Saturday’s sessions.