Why Ferrari shouldn't give up on developing the SF-25 car

While many teams have brought updates forward and are already beginning to reallocate resources with an eye on the regulatory changes coming for the 2026 Formula 1 season, Ferrari seems to be choosing a contrarian strategy. In Maranello, they continue to wait, delaying the approval of new parts. The Ferrari engineers and technicians are working on a mechanical upgrade that could involve the entire rear end of the SF-25 single-seater. It is now well known that the focus is on the rear suspension. Of course, these are still unconfirmed rumors and remain somewhat mysterious for, given that Lewis Hamilton has denied them last weekend while team principal Frederic Vasseur has been open to the idea but has never explicitly mentioned the much-talked-about component of the Italian car.

The 2025 Formula 1 car from the Prancing Horse is facing a significant technical challenge: the compromise regarding ride height. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have complained about difficulties due to the inability to run the car at an optimal distance from the ground, a necessary condition to maximize aerodynamic load.

The current suspension setup exposes the SF-25 single-seater to a real risk of “bottoming out” in corners, especially at high speed or with a full fuel tank, with consequences for the floor’s protection and, in turn, the car’s technical consistency. See, for example, the disappointing ending to the Chinese Grand Prix.

The analysis conducted by the Italian team’s engineers and technicians has revealed a bottleneck in the layout of the rear, which was modified this year following the introduction of a more compact gearbox. A potential revision of the suspension would aim to create more space around the transmission, allowing for a different configuration of the arms and damping elements, therefore improving management of ride height under dynamic conditions. The new design would also allow better management of aerodynamic flow in a critical area of the car. It is well known that mechanical configurations are chosen in part to facilitate airflow channeling.

The new components, assuming that Ferrari technical director Loic Serra and his team see tangible benefits, will not be introduced at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, where instead an aerodynamic package will arrive, aimed also at complying with the technical directive on wing flexibility. A potential threat that is unlikely to change the competitive order. Production and testing timelines make it plausible for the new suspension system to debut between late June and early July, with Austria and Silverstone among the first possible weekends.

Ferrari SF-25: why it makes sense not to abandon the project

The decision to invest in such an invasive development on the current car has raised more than a few doubts, considering that the 2026 Formula 1 technical regulations will be radically different. Ferrari might find itself almost forced to act on the mechanical side, as the FIA’s mandate for a new front wing specification to be introduced in Barcelona represents more of a regulatory obligation than a performance-driven development. Hence the strategic importance attributed to mechanical components—the only ones that, with the right adjustments, could potentially be adapted to the new 2026 chassis.

But Ferrari intends to go beyond pure technical logic. Suddenly halting development would be a mistake, a demotivating signal that could be used as an excuse. To stay competitive, internal pressure is needed, a sense of urgency for results. This is the atmosphere which Frederic Vasseur aims to create among his team to avoid the drift toward discouragement, which could also have consequences in light of 2026.

The entire working group must remain focused on the current season, that is the the clear target at this stage of the championship: Frederic Vasseur explained during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix that he couldn’t expect a team of 1,000 people to remain motivated if they were aware they weren’t working toward an immediate goal. The French manager added that while the 2026 project was progressing, those involved in trackside activities had to continue pushing.

It is a choice that reflects Ferrari’s attempt to balance present and future, trying not to sacrifice immediate performance on the altar of a long wait for the new technical cycle. The Maranello team does not intend to throw away the current Formula 1 championship, albeit with the awareness that overturning the current competitive order is a titanic task that likely will not succeed.