Ferrari Set to Introduce Final Major Upgrade of 2025 Season at Belgian Grand Prix Amid Rising Pressure
Ferrari are preparing to unveil their final significant upgrade package of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, as the Italian team intensifies its efforts to close the growing gap to a dominant McLaren. With just under half the season remaining, the Maranello-based outfit is facing immense pressure to deliver results following a campaign that has not lived up to expectations.
At the beginning of the season, Ferrari entered the championship with genuine aspirations of ending their long title drought. The team last celebrated a drivers’ world championship in 2007 and a constructors’ crown in 2008. However, the dream of reclaiming the top spot in Formula 1 has quickly faded, as McLaren has surged ahead with a commanding 238-point lead after just 12 rounds of racing.
Drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are currently placed fifth and sixth in the drivers’ standings, respectively, both trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by significant margins—115 and 131 points—heading into the race weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. In response, Ferrari are introducing a revised rear suspension system they hope will unlock greater performance from the SF-25.
Since his high-profile switch from Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton has struggled to adapt to the unique handling characteristics of Ferrari’s 2025 car, particularly due to the instability at the rear. The SF-25 has frequently required a higher ride height to avoid excessive wear to the floor plank, which in turn compromises aerodynamic efficiency. Ferrari hope the latest update will allow them to run the car lower to the ground without sacrificing durability or consistency.
The revised rear suspension likely includes alterations to the damping system and modifications to the mounting point of the front wishbone relative to the gearbox. Ferrari’s leadership believes that this upgrade could finally deliver a breakthrough performance, potentially resulting in the team’s first race win of the 2025 season. So far, the Scuderia remain the only team among Formula 1’s top four without a single Grand Prix victory or pole position this year, despite holding second place in the constructors’ championship.
As the pressure mounts, reports in the Spanish and Italian press have revealed that Ferrari’s top management is now using the media to express their dissatisfaction with the current performance trajectory. According to MARCA, key figures in Maranello have not hesitated to apportion blame across the entire organisation, making it clear that expectations are not being met.
The team is desperate to return to winning ways, having last tasted victory when Carlos Sainz claimed the top step of the podium at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix. While the consistency of Leclerc and Hamilton has helped Ferrari remain second in the championship, their position is precarious. Mercedes are only 12 points behind, thanks largely to George Russell’s 147-point contribution out of their total 210. Red Bull, meanwhile, trail Ferrari by 50 points, with Max Verstappen delivering the lion’s share of their tally—165 of 172 points.
Ferrari’s relative strength in the standings owes more to inconsistencies at rival teams than outright pace. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has failed to score points in five of the last six events, and Red Bull’s new recruit Yuki Tsunoda has added just seven points to their total since joining from RB at round three in March. Without these setbacks at other teams, Ferrari’s campaign could appear even more underwhelming.
Back at Maranello, the mounting criticism has triggered a wave of reports questioning the internal stability of the team. One such claim suggested that team principal Fred Vasseur was given only three races to save his job ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix—an ultimatum he ultimately weathered. Vasseur later expressed frustration at the situation, reportedly calling the rumours both “very harsh” and “disrespectful.” The Frenchman was particularly aggrieved by suggestions that other senior personnel at Ferrari could also be under threat.
One report that drew particular ire involved speculation that Ferrari were targeting Red Bull’s head of aerodynamics, Enrico Balbo. If such a move were to materialize, it could place Ferrari’s current aero chief, Diego Tondi, under scrutiny. Tondi has been a key part of Ferrari’s technical structure since 2007 and has steadily risen through the ranks to occupy a prominent role today.
The turbulent atmosphere has even led to suggestions that Charles Leclerc might be considering a departure from the team due to the ongoing struggles. Although the Monegasque driver signed a new long-term deal with Ferrari in January 2024—committing to the team until the end of the 2029 season—his contract reportedly includes exit clauses. These clauses could allow Charles Leclerc to explore options elsewhere if Ferrari fails to make meaningful progress.
With tensions rising and time running out in the 2025 campaign, Ferrari’s upcoming upgrades in Belgium represent more than just a technical shift—they are a symbol of urgency and a last-ditch attempt to rescue a season that has fallen far short of expectations. The spotlight is now firmly on Spa-Francorchamps, where Ferrari must deliver or risk losing both ground and credibility in the battle at the front of Formula 1.
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