Ferrari is looking ahead to the Belgian Grand Prix, an event that could serve as a potential turning point in its 2025 Formula One campaign. While overtaking McLaren in the championship remains unrealistic due to the British team’s clear technical advantage, the Scuderia is hoping this race can unlock the full potential of its SF-25 challenger and, at the very least, allow the team to consistently position itself as the second strongest force on the grid—considered the minimum target for the 2025 season.
More importantly, the Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps could provide a crucial opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the technical team led by Loïc Serra. The French engineer, who was appointed by current Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur, has come under increased scrutiny after Ferrari’s disappointing performance with the SF-25. However, it should be noted that Serra only officially joined the Scuderia after the design of the current car had been completed, limiting his influence on the initial concept. As a result, any meaningful contributions from his department will only begin to emerge with the arrival of a new rear suspension—an upgrade specifically developed to address the limitations of the current design, particularly in the rear end of the car.
An Evolved Suspension System
The Maranello-based team has been working on correcting fundamental weaknesses that have prevented the SF-25 from being driven in the setup configuration it was originally designed for. Without achieving the intended balance and setup parameters, the car has not been able to extract its full aerodynamic potential. Ferrari believes these problems can be addressed with the introduction of an evolved rear suspension, which recently made its debut during a filming day at the Mugello circuit. According to internal feedback, the component performed well, sparking cautious optimism within the team.
This updated suspension follows a design philosophy previously introduced by Mercedes, particularly the repositioning of the front arm of the upper wishbone, which has been angled forward. This change enhances car stability during transient phases, such as braking, and allows for stiffer setups and lower ride heights—conditions under which the SF-25 was intended to operate. By enabling the car to run closer to the ground, the system maximizes downforce generation from the floor. These mechanical upgrades are not only aimed at salvaging the current campaign, but they also serve as a foundational step in preparing the next-generation 2026 car, currently referred to as Project 678.
Leo Turrini Speaks Out
Italian journalist Leo Turrini addressed the upcoming upgrades in his blog “Profondo Rosso,” emphasizing that while the new suspension is not expected to transform Ferrari into a title contender overnight, it could at least make the car competitive enough to win a few races in the latter half of the season. This, according to Turrini, is a reasonable goal and something the team’s fans deserve to see.
Leo Turrini warned, however, against linking the success or failure of the new suspension to the future of Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur—whose name continues to circulate in rumors regarding possible changes at the helm of the team. In Turrini’s view, such decisions can only be made by Ferrari’s top management.
He wrote:
“The flop in the opening races was embarrassing. Zero victories, zero pole positions, and half the points of McLaren—that’s not a performance summary, it’s a sentence. If you’re a true Ferrari fan, you can’t accept ending the season like this. Sure, the technical regulations will change in 2026, but that doesn’t mean you just give up now. You hope that this mysterious suspension will bring, I don’t know, two or three wins. Come on—they’ve managed to win with Red Bull and Mercedes!”
Turrini then dismissed the idea that Vasseur’s future should be tied to this specific upgrade:
“It would make no sense to connect Vasseur’s fate to the results of a so-called miracle suspension. From spring 2014 to January 2023, Ferrari had five team principals. That’s the kind of turnover you’d expect from Zamparini’s Palermo. And the results? Zero. Clearly, the problem isn’t just the person in charge…”
Turrini’s reflections echo a growing sentiment among Ferrari supporters and insiders: technical upgrades like the rear suspension are critical, but so is institutional stability. Winning two or three races might not redeem the entire season, but it would offer a much-needed morale boost—and perhaps silence, at least temporarily, the ongoing debate over leadership at Maranello.
Leave a Reply