“The Ferrari SF-25 has gained almost a second” sounds like one of those classic January statements, at least according to Leo Turrini. The well-known Italian journalist promptly dismissed claims about the tenths Ferrari has supposedly gained, yet…
According to Leo Turrini, these are nothing more than baseless rumors. In his blog, he quickly commented on the theory of Ferrari’s improvement, effectively dismantling it. “The winter period seems endless, and inevitably, the Space Balls start circulating. But for heaven’s sake! Among other things, these ‘rumors’ are objectively meaningless.”
How much will Ferrari gain in 2025?
He then added: “Let me explain. They say that in the simulator, Ferrari has gained a second or slightly more. But compared to whom? No one knows anything about the data from Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull, etc. Except for those directly involved, who reveal nothing,” he continued.
Leo Turrini’s observations are generally valid, but only up to a point. When discussing improvements and recovered tenths, the reference is often made to Ferrari’s previous year’s car. So, when estimating lap time gains, it’s clear that the comparison is with the SF-24, not with other teams’ cars.
Regarding how much the car that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will drive this year has improved, F1inGenerale sought clarification on the actual gains of the 677 compared to the SF-24. Their source reported that much of the improvement came from the front suspension, where the pull-rod design unlocked significant potential. The same source estimated a gain of five tenths.
A greater airflow passage between the undercut and sidepods has allowed the team to optimize the aerodynamics in this crucial area. All these elements work together with changes made to the power unit and rear end. Therefore, the comparison should primarily be made with Ferrari’s own previous car.
