The day after Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, the Maranello team’s work continues at full speed. The team led by Frederic Vasseur is pushing hard to optimize the 677. Amid rumors and confirmations about the new suspension layout, the first indications of the time gains achieved by the Ferrari 677 have also begun to emerge.
The 2025 Formula 1 season looks to be very exciting, with several teams likely contending for the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Among Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes, the first two are considered the most likely to make another performance step. This is because, in the final part of the year, they demonstrated having the most complete package available.
Additionally, the development approach taken by these two teams has proven to be effective, with excellent simulator-to-track correlation. With significantly fewer on-track and factory testing hours, Ferrari and McLaren seem to have optimized the process of designing and testing updates.
The starting point for the 2025 F1 car, which we detailed in this article, will be crucial. Discussing how much the car Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will drive this year has improved, the Italian media has asked for clarification on the actual gains of the 677 compared to the SF-24. The source indicated that much of the improvement came from the front suspension, which, with the pull-rod layout, unlocked significant potential.
A greater airflow passage between the undercut and the sidepods allowed the Maranello team’s technicians and engineers to optimize aerodynamics in this critical area. All these elements work in conjunction with the changes made to the Power Unit and rear end.
In comparison with Alpine, which reported an estimated gain of 5 tenths, it was confirmed that the gap to the SF-24 is substantial, with an upward trend. However, no specific figures were provided to avoid creating unrealistic expectations.
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