Ferrari’s new floor update and how it aims to fix lift and coast challenges

Approaching the eleventh round of the 2025 Formula 1 championship, the Austrian Grand Prix, we have discussed in the last few days how Ferrari will need to adapt to the 4.318-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. The Maranello team’s technicians and engineers face several challenges to make the weekend successful and avoid mistakes like those in Canada. As always, the focus is on optimizing the SF-25’s performance, with particular attention to two key factors: the upcoming floor upgrade and lift and coast management.

Ferrari has meticulously studied the setup to find a more effective balance between mechanical grip and aerodynamics. Tire management remains crucial within this equation to achieve the right performance. Since June 5, when the news first broke, the Maranello team has been working to bring a new version of the floor, described as a preparatory update. This element will become even more useful when further car adjustments are introduced from the British Grand Prix onward. This is the second floor specification after the one launched in Bahrain. It will be interesting to see where the modifications are focused to better understand the real issues affecting the SF-25. Changes could include updates to the sharp edge area.

This area is critical for sealing the airflow beneath the F1 car. Similarly, work is underway to desensitize the floor, potentially allowing a wider aerodynamic map. It is important to remember that the downforce generated by this major component varies depending on different conditions, as it does not produce consistent downforce levels in every driving situation.

Downforce depends on speed and especially on the roll, yaw, and pitch angles—the three rotations the car experiences on track. The vertical load also varies based on the combination of these factors. Ferrari currently has a lower maximum downforce compared to cars like Red Bull and McLaren, lacking support both at low and high speeds. Part of this deficit likely stems from Ferrari’s different suspension stiffness philosophy. The new floor specification should help expand the operating window where the SF-25 performs well. However, it is not a miracle fix, which is why the team has been cautious about promoting this update openly. Some problems can be solved with aerodynamic upgrades and better understanding, while others will unfortunately persist for now considering the general characteristics of the SF-25 single-seater.

With the extra downforce from the new Ferrari floor, the Maranello team can optimize cornering speed on faster sections, potentially finding a more efficient compromise setup. Everything depends on the impact of this correction. If it delivers the expected results, the historic Italian side could redefine the operating window of the Prancing Horse’s car. We will wait and see.

The 2025 Formula 1 season has so far proven to be a particularly complex testing ground for Ferrari. One other major issue for the Maranello team is why lift and coast problems exist and how to reduce them in Austria. In recent F1 races, the Italian car has often been “hampered” by a clear necessity: to perform constant lift and coast throughout stints. For various reasons, Ferrari is sometimes forced into this practice. In the Canadian Grand Prix, brake temperature issues contributed, also due to excessive brake use to slow the car down.

However, this strategy was present in previous rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season. While radio instructions for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton aimed to keep internal power unit temperatures in the correct range, the move also helped limit wear on the skid block located under the floor. This area led to the disqualification of car number 44 in the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit

Lift and coast means lifting off the throttle at the end of straights and coasting, without pressing accelerator or brake. This approach becomes problematic if used for many laps. In Austria, the Ferrari engineers and technicians plan to introduce some subtle updates to correct this issue. They will also adjust the setup, and the new Ferrari floor could potentially help reduce this headache.