Ferrari’s season start has been well below expectations, with few points and two disqualifications after the first two events. However, the Charles Leclerc – Lewis Hamilton pair has shown good signs with low fuel load, while at high fuel load, the SF-25 has shown its limits. Due to a unclear and wide operating window, Ferrari is scrambling to address the issues with the first updates coming between Japan, Bahrain, and Jeddah.
The Japanese Suzuka track represents a great testing ground to assess the value of the SF-25, despite it having a flaw that limits its potential. The 677 has shown abnormal understeering in race setup, which emerged after setup changes were made to protect the plank. This is an inevitable consequence, given the stiffened rear axle that prevents any load transfer.
With a two-week break and Loic Serra working at Maranello, the chassis department has worked on the rear suspension, initially blamed for Ferrari’s difficulties. This area, which the Italian website F1inGenerale has identified as a key factor in the problems, saw increased squat that led to excessive wear on the plank. To be more precise, the car increased rear suspension travel, but the progressive stiffness springs didn’t provide the necessary support. Among the potential interventions to maintain the “trick” explained in our analysis, Ferrari could introduce a new end of travel or re-calibrated springs. These under-the-skin adjustments should be arriving already in Japan, a crucial track to assess the actual value of the SF-25.
In addition to these adjustments, Ferrari is expected to introduce some small new aerodynamic elements, likely micro-aerodynamics. These elements will help optimize the airflow affecting the car.
Ferrari is already looking to Jeddah
The Maranello team, technically led by Loic Serra, attempted everything to bring the new floor to Suzuka ahead of schedule but has decided to introduce it in Bahrain, in a week. This was a wise decision, both to keep costs in check and to gain a deeper understanding of the SF-25 on a demanding track like Suzuka.
Looking beyond Japan, Ferrari has further parts planned to improve the performance of the SF-25. Indeed, the upcoming updates are not fixes but elements designed to improve the speed capabilities of the 2025 car. Two areas could be affected by these new updates. The first, more suitable for a radical intervention, is the undercut. Here, Ferrari’s technicians might significantly increase the volume of air passing through this critical area. We recall that in this generation of cars, the floor works best when it has a perfect interaction with the car’s body.
The other area is the front wing, which could be modified to work better with the new floor. This is because the updated floor may need a new fluid flow to be properly powered, and the wing plays a crucial role in providing that.
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