Scuderia Ferrari has revealed its next major technical step: a new rear suspension system that will be tested at the Mugello Circuit ahead of a possible race debut at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. This long-awaited component could finally unleash the full potential of the SF-25, which has so far completed 12 Grands Prix in a compromised state due to persistent handling issues first identified at Fiorano.
With the Belgian Grand Prix approaching, Ferrari hopes that the heavily revised rear suspension will allow the SF-25 to operate within its ideal performance window, free from the limitations that have affected its balance and consistency. The Mugello test will serve as a decisive trial to evaluate the effectiveness of this update under real track conditions.
In recent days, speculation surrounding the arrival of this new rear-end solution has intensified, with several media outlets—including respected German publication Auto Motor und Sport (AMuS)—reporting on the upcoming upgrade. Quoting Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur, AMuS confirmed that the new rear suspension will be introduced at Spa. According to Fred Vasseur, this development is not only essential for the remainder of the 2025 season but will also play a key role in shaping the team’s direction for 2026, when the new generation of technical regulations comes into effect.
From a mechanical perspective, Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, much like the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It features a variety of fast, sweeping corners and quick direction changes that place significant strain on a car’s chassis and suspension systems. With such a sensitive and performance-defining component as the rear suspension, Ferrari opted against rushing its debut and instead scheduled a thorough testing program to fully assess the new specification.
The Mugello Circuit, owned by Ferrari and located in Tuscany, was the obvious choice for this crucial test. Not only does it eliminate the need for track rental fees due to Ferrari’s ownership, but it also provides an ideal environment to replicate many of the high-speed characteristics found at Spa. In fact, Spa was not available for private testing in the days leading up to the race weekend, making Mugello the logical alternative. The test is scheduled to take place over two days—Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17—dates that had already been anticipated on the morning of July 3.
The rear suspension update has been in development for months, with extensive simulation work and testing on dynamic rigs. Ferrari believes this could be the solution to long-standing instability and performance limitations that first became apparent during early-season running at Fiorano and were later confirmed in detailed post-race analyses, particularly after the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Some of these issues were even revealed through exclusive insights published as early as May.
The Mugello test offers Ferrari the chance to collect invaluable data by running the SF-25 with a setup not optimized for the specific demands of the track. Despite Mugello’s high-speed corners that typically require a stiffer platform, Ferrari will test the car in a softer configuration similar to what is used at Imola. This will allow the team to monitor the wear of the plank—a wooden skid block under the car’s floor that regulates ride height and downforce generation. Excessive wear has forced Ferrari to back off performance targets in recent races.
With 38 laps available during the filming day, Ferrari will assess both plank wear and aerodynamic behavior at high speeds, particularly through the two high-speed right-handers known as the Arrabbiate corners. These will simulate conditions similar to the Puhon corner at Spa—a fast, sweeping left-hander where ground clearance becomes critical. Additional corners like Correntaio, Casanova–Savelli, and Scarperia–Palagio will provide the team with further insights into how the SF-25 handles under load, helping simulate the variety of corners found at the Ardennes circuit.
The Mugello session could be a defining moment in Ferrari’s 2025 season, as the team looks to extract the full potential of its car heading into one of the most demanding rounds of the Formula 1 calendar.
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