THE SF-25 REVOLUTION

NEW FRONT WING AND REFINED DETAILS OF THE SF-25

Originally Published in: Gazzetta dello Sport

Originally Published on: March 12th 2025

Originally Written by: Paolo Filisetti

ⓒ LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT

The goal of the technicians in Maranello has been to improve the car in qualifying and race pace. Bold choices. This is what Frederic Vasseur requested after his first year as team principal of Ferrari. It was necessary to dare in search of new technical solutions to develop the car. The result was the progression that saw the red car fighting for the constructors' title against McLaren in the past season. The goal for 2025 is to take another step forward, aiming for the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships. Therefore, in Maranello, they pushed the accelerator, revolutionizing the car's design. The new SF-25 was born with two priorities: to maintain the excellent tire management of the SF-24 and to improve qualifying performance.

Suspension Last year, Ferrari proved effective in race pace, thanks to the contained tire degradation, but was less competitive in single-lap performance. This was a limitation on Saturday, and even more so during weekends with the Sprint Race format, where the difficulty of getting the tires up to temperature became a critical factor compared to rivals McLaren and Red Bull. The SF-25 has been designed to eliminate this problem. The new pull rod front suspension has been introduced precisely to transmit more energy onto the tires.

Heights This configuration also allows for better control of the variations in the car's ground clearance. The current ground effect single-seaters generate more aerodynamic load when the floor is closer to the ground. However, these setups produce a side effect of triggering porpoising, which dramatically reduces driving effectiveness. The pull rod, with a leverage ratio completely different from that of a wishbone setup, allows for the management of this phenomenon. The "stability" of the front end positively contributes to greater precision during the car's corner entry phase. This characteristic suits the driving style of both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The integration of the new suspension has made it possible to realize extremely refined details, such as the rear attachment point of the upper triangle, which can be adjusted in height. This way, the "range" of setup adjustments can be expanded.

Hood The SF-25 impresses with the refinement of aerodynamic details. The rear end is built around a very compact gearbox. The choice of multiple heat dissipation vents along the spine of the engine cover is also sophisticated, characterized by a slight downward tilt to direct the outgoing airflow towards the rear wing.

The recipe is to aim for results immediately, trying to limit the learning curve required for technicians and drivers to adjust this car in order to extract its maximum potential.