Formula 1, British Grand Prix 2025: as per tradition, the iconic Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom is getting ready to host the Formula 1 paddock in one of the most prestigious and technically demanding rounds of the entire World Championship calendar. The historic British track is synonymous with high average speed (around 245 km/h), fast corners with significant lateral load, mid-corner stability and long full-throttle sections. This unique blend of characteristics forces engineers and drivers alike to work meticulously in pursuit of an extremely refined and well-balanced setup.
Even though the asphalt at Silverstone is remarkably smooth, tyre degradation remains high due to the intense lateral forces the tyres must endure, especially on the front axle, in the numerous fast corners. In light of this, Pirelli has opted for a softer compound range than in 2024, bringing the C2, C3, and C4 tyres to the event. The goal is to enhance mechanical grip and to increase the range of strategic options available to the various Formula 1 teams.
F1, British Grand Prix 2025: high cornering speed is crucial
The average lap speed at Silverstone is among the highest across the entire Formula 1 season, but it is not only top-end speed on the straights that determines success over the weekend. In fact, when analyzing lap time, it becomes clear that the fast, flowing corners—such as Copse, the legendary Maggots-Becketts-Chapel sequence, and Stowe—are the real game-changers. In these sections, the Formula 1 cars are subjected to extreme lateral G-forces and require a rigid and stable aerodynamic platform in order to deliver optimal performance.
Aerodynamic efficiency will therefore be a fundamental aspect of the setup: teams need to configure their cars with medium to medium-high downforce levels, combined with controlled drag and minimal ride heights to fully activate the Venturi tunnels under the floor. If the car is able to run low without suffering from bottoming out, the floor will generate optimal levels of underbody airflow depression and downforce, in accordance with Bernoulli’s principle. This is a key component in modern ground-effect aerodynamics.
GP Silverstone 2025: rigid yet balanced suspension, the secret lies in precision
The front suspension must be particularly stiff, especially in the section between corners 10 and 14, where the speed and frequency of direction changes are comparable to those seen in the first sector of the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. Meanwhile, the rear axle must be able to closely follow the movement of the front end to prevent the car from becoming unstable or breaking traction. The overall behaviour must therefore be highly responsive and as precise as possible, reducing the need for constant steering corrections by the driver.
At the same time, the suspension system must minimize body roll and maintain consistent ride height through the corners, a necessary condition to avoid compromising the performance of the floor and diffuser. At the rear, a slightly softer setup is often preferred to aid traction when exiting slow-speed corners such as turns 3, 4, 6, and 17—areas where balanced handling is essential to avoid overheating the tyres and losing grip in key traction zones.
Another crucial parameter is camber angle: on the front axle, teams push values close to the regulatory limit (around -2.75°) to distribute loads more evenly across the surface of the tyre, particularly in long-radius corners such as Stowe or Brooklands. At the rear, a more conservative camber setting is typically used to improve traction and tyre longevity on corner exit.
Finally, there is the calibration of the dampers, which is typically aimed at maintaining high stiffness in compression, especially at high speeds. This choice is essential to reduce both roll and pitch during rapid changes of direction. Keeping the aerodynamic platform as flat and stable as possible is key to ensuring consistent floor performance and maintaining optimal speeds through the technical sections of the lap.
Ferrari in the spotlight: setup will be decisive
Silverstone stands out as a complete test for any Formula 1 car. It demands high aerodynamic downforce, strong traction, efficiency on straights, and excellent tyre management. But above all, the car needs a setup that perfectly complements the chassis dynamics and aerodynamic philosophy of the specific design. It is a major challenge that the Scuderia Ferrari team, based in Maranello, will be eager to conquer. A fearless approach is the right mindset to adopt.
All eyes will be on the Ferrari SF-25 this weekend. The recent updates introduced to the car’s floor will only prove effective if they allow the car to be safely lowered in terms of ride height, thus activating the underbody surfaces efficiently in order to generate significant aerodynamic downforce in the most demanding sectors of the track. This is the key step to staying within the ideal performance window. Otherwise, the risk is to lose valuable tenths of a second corner after corner—a price no top team can afford in such a finely balanced championship.
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