17/07/2025 14:45
Ferrari is present at the Mugello Circuit on Thursday as it carries
out a filming day with the SF-25 - the second of two permitted
during the season. In use at the short outing is the modified rear
suspension, with the team allowed to conduct 200km of running
during the day. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are present
at Mugello, marking their first experience with the crucial
development at Ferrari. The new suspension involves moving the
front attachment point of the suspension's upper triangle down.
The intention of this modification, which is not small or trivial,
is due to the need to determine whether the carbon fibre structure
covering the gearbox is capable of withstanding the loads generated
at the new attachment point of the suspension. It was important to
evaluate the suspension's behaviour ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix
in one week's time, where it is set to be rolled out across the
weekend. The modification became necessary after the findings from
the first races of an inability of the rear suspension in its
original version to work with the front end, which is made by the
pull-rod suspension. It is therefore correct to consider that the
new version aims to extract maximum potential from the latest
aerodynamic changes that preceded the new suspension. This
includes the floor trialled in Austria that also had positive
feedback last time out at Silverstone, although not to the extent
of undoing all of the SF-25's problems. It is worth reiterating
that the engineers headed by Loic Serra are also currently engaged
in the evaluation and implementation of modifications at the
hydraulic level of the SF-25's power steering. At Silverstone, both
Leclerc and Hamilton complained about the precision of the steering
and the confidence in the stability of the front end in fast
corners. It is an element that mainly affects the ability to set
ideal trajectories at top speeds, without fearing sudden deviations
of the car's front end. If the rear suspension were to give
positive feedback, it would represent the solution to the SF-25's
excessive sensitivity at the aerodynamic performance level to
changes in ground clearance and finally be able to extract the
performance locked within the car. The significantly less awkward
power steering modification, on the other hand, should be completed
in time for Hungary before the summer break. The tests at Mugello
will see the adoption of a wide range of setups to evaluate the
dynamic response of the car, including on the long main straight,
where the load generated by the bottom according to the ride
heights adopted varies significantly. The new version of the
suspension represents a litmus test of the SF-25's competitiveness
in the second half of the season. But, at least until Spa, judgment
is can be reserved! The upgrade features a lowered position of the
rear suspension mounting point. This modification is intended to
complement the floor introduced in Austria, to enhance the
aerodynamic performance not achievable with the previous suspension
version.
