Loic Serra is one of the latest additions to Maranello’s ranks, brought in by Fred Vasseur. The former Mercedes engineer brings extensive expertise in understanding suspensions and tires, areas with significant development potential. As Ferrari’s technical director, Serra confirmed that extensive work was done during testing in Bahrain, including specific tasks and preparation for Melbourne.
Loic Serra’s arrival at Ferrari has brought fresh energy to a department that has struggled for years to find the right balance. The chassis and suspension sector has historically been one of the less prominent areas within Ferrari. However, since last year, with the introduction of an extremely innovative rear pull-rod suspension, a renewal process has begun at Maranello.
Discussing the completed tests in Bahrain, Loic Serra outlined Ferrari’s work program, including car mapping and cryptic test runs.
“Despite the unusually cold weather in Bahrain, the test was very useful for us. We completed the entire planned program, and the car demonstrated a good level of reliability. The on-track data aligned with our expectations, and the SF-25 responded well to setup changes.” His words fully reflect what emerged from our analysis.
“We were pleased to see a strong correlation between the data collected on the Sakhir track and what we observed in the simulator, which has now become an essential tool for maximizing the car’s performance from race to race. Looking ahead to the immediate future, the conditions in Bahrain were particularly cold, while Melbourne, at the end of summer, will offer much warmer weather. This will influence the car’s behavior, especially in terms of tire performance. By the end of the weekend, we will have a clearer but still not definitive picture of the team hierarchy. We will continue to focus on ourselves and work towards a strong start to the season.”
Loic Serra’s comments also explain the SF-25’s changing behavior during its test runs. The sessions saw the car alternating between oversteer, understeer, and a neutral platform—crucial setup experiments to fully understand the new SF-25, which features a dual pull-rod suspension. The car did not push for ultimate lap times, considering ballast, fuel load, and a deliberately mismatched rear wing for the Bahrain circuit.
The rear wing will be a key area of focus this weekend in Melbourne, with Ferrari having acted ahead of its rivals. In fact, the SF-25 was the only car on the grid equipped with specific markers for monitoring rear-end flexion. This “innovation” was exclusively discovered by our previous articles and later confirmed by insider sources.
Loic Serra also spoke highly of the atmosphere he has encountered at Maranello, among both fans and team personnel eager for the 2025 Formula 1 season. “Impressed is the right word! The passion for Ferrari among fans and employees is admirable. This collective enthusiasm is truly inspiring and one of the strongest driving forces I have ever experienced. Right now, the mood within the team is very positive, and we are all confident in achieving the goals we have set for ourselves.” – the Ferrari technical director concluded ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
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