The Formula 1 race weekend at Spa-Francorchamps provided Scuderia Ferrari with an important opportunity to assess the performance of its latest technical development—the revised rear suspension. The initial signs were encouraging, showing a step forward in terms of handling and balance. However, the upgrade was not revolutionary enough to place the Italian team on equal footing with McLaren in terms of pure competitiveness.
Looking ahead to the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, Ferrari will benefit from the return to the standard weekend format, which includes three free practice sessions. This will allow the Maranello-based team to fine-tune the Belgian upgrade package, gaining a deeper understanding of how the new rear suspension behaves over a variety of track conditions and fuel loads.
The Hungaroring itself is a rear-limited circuit, meaning that rear grip and traction play a critical role in lap time performance. The layout, with its tight and twisty corners, puts significant stress on the rear tyres, making the efficiency of the rear end particularly crucial. This characteristic appears to align well with the strengths of the updated SF-25 single-seater, leading Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur to express cautious optimism immediately after the conclusion of the Belgian Grand Prix. According to Vasseur, “It’s a track that should suit our car quite well.”
Fred Vasseur outlines Ferrari’s goals before the summer break
Previewing the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, Frédéric Vasseur reaffirmed Ferrari’s ambitions to keep improving before the championship enters its traditional summer break. He explained: “Over the last few races, we have made noticeable progress in terms of overall competitiveness. In Belgium, thanks to the excellent work carried out at our Maranello headquarters, we introduced a package of upgrades that further enhanced the performance of the SF-25.”
Fred Vasseur added that the team is determined to continue this momentum: “We now face one more race before the summer break, and our goal is to keep growing, both as a team and in terms of results.”
Discussing the challenges of the next venue, Vasseur highlighted the unique characteristics of the Hungaroring circuit: “It will be interesting to see how the updated SF-25 performs on a track that is very different from Spa—tight, technical, and full of medium- and low-speed corners. The nature of this layout will offer a new kind of test for our car.”
The French team principal also expressed confidence in the Scuderia’s driver duo. “Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are in good form, showing strong performances and consistency. The team is also operating well across all departments. We want to head into the summer break on the back of another solid result, one that confirms our recent progress and sets a strong foundation for the second half of the season.”
With development continuing and the team’s morale high, Ferrari is focused on maintaining upward momentum at the Hungarian Grand Prix, hoping that its updated SF-25 and high-performing drivers can deliver another competitive weekend before Formula 1 pauses for the summer.
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