On the evening of February 18, images of the SF-25, the car with which Scuderia Ferrari will compete in the upcoming F1 season, appeared online and on Ferrari’s social media channels. This unveiling, along with those of other teams, came after the conclusion of the F1-75 event in London, where the official liveries of the championship cars were presented. However, the SF-25 naturally generated much more buzz than its rivals, as it is the car Ferrari is betting everything on to return to championship-winning form and, notably, the first Ferrari driven by Lewis Hamilton.
Appearance and substance
As has been known for some time, the SF-25 features several significant changes compared to the SF-24, which performed well last season. At first glance, the car has a revised color scheme, maintaining the matte red (now darker and accompanied by a considerable amount of white for sponsorship reasons). In terms of engineering, the most notable change is the front suspension, now a pull-rod design, along with various optimizations across different areas of the car to extract maximum performance in all conditions and surpass the development ceiling of its predecessor. These changes affect crucial aerodynamic flow management, thermal dissipation, and other aerodynamic concepts. Just hours after its unveiling, the SF-25 has already made its on-track debut, with Leclerc and Hamilton completing a shakedown at Fiorano in front of team leaders and hundreds of fans lining the fences.
A wave of enthusiasm, according to Leo Turrini
It was a truly enthusiastic debut, reflecting an atmosphere of confidence and optimism in Maranello and beyond—something Leo Turrini highlighted in his blog “Profondo Rosso.” He not only emphasized the excitement but also shared his thoughts on the SF-25, expressing hope for a strong and potentially victorious 2025 season, one that won’t leave Ferrari fans once again drowning in nostalgia.
“It’s been years since expectations have been this high. In the heart of the Motor Valley, there’s an atmosphere… but what an atmosphere! So, here we are: what is this car of yet another dream like? Fred Vasseur […] wasn’t lying when he promised a boldly innovative SF-25. Not just conceptually, but visually as well. The front end is strikingly different. The nose follows the philosophy of technical director Enrico Cardile, particularly in terms of suspension. The change compared to 2024 is drastic. […] The same applies to the car’s floor. […] Attention must also be paid to the transmission. […] Due to regulatory constraints (with engines frozen), there are zero—or almost zero—changes to the power unit. […] Last year, Ferrari’s engine was on par with Honda’s in the Red Bull and Mercedes’ in the McLaren. That won’t be where the battle is fought. […] May the racing gods be on our side.
P.S. If things go badly again, ‘Balorda Nostalgia’ by Sanremo artist Olly becomes Ferrari’s official anthem.”
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