Hamilton and Leclerc test Ferrari SF-25 at Fiorano shakedown

Hamilton and Leclerc test Ferrari SF-25 at Fiorano shakedown

By Michael Harrison

February 20, 2025 at 02:30 AM

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed their initial drives of Ferrari's new SF-25 during a shakedown at the Fiorano test track, following the car's unveiling at F1 75 Live in London.

The SF-25 features significant technical upgrades, with Ferrari modifying 99% of the car compared to its predecessor. Most notably, the team switched from push rod to pull rod front suspension, aiming to expand aerodynamic development possibilities after reaching limitations with the previous design.

Chassis Technical Director Loic Serra explained that while the SF-25 builds upon the successful SF-24 platform, the extensive modifications were made to maximize performance in what's expected to be an extremely competitive season where milliseconds matter.

Red IndyCar racing at Phoenix

Red IndyCar racing at Phoenix

Team Principal Fred Vasseur noted that the conceptual decisions predated Serra's arrival from Mercedes. Despite Ferrari's strong performance in the latter half of last season, with Leclerc leading the points tally after the summer break, Serra believes these changes don't present significant risks.

"The main concept of the SF-25 focuses on creating space for enhanced aerodynamic and overall development," Serra stated. "While the SF-24 finished strong, we were approaching development limitations. The new car maintains the core performance concept while incorporating extensive component updates to boost development potential."

Red racecar speeding on racetrack

Red racecar speeding on racetrack

Serra expects the development curve to remain similar to last year's model, with potential for accelerated performance improvements compared to the end of the previous season.

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