Ferrari plans to introduce its highly anticipated new rear suspension at the Belgian Grand Prix after its initial test at Mugello, but Charles Leclerc has given a cautious assessment. During Thursday’s testing at the Italian circuit, Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed 19 laps, marking the first attempt at Ferrari’s suspension upgrade.
Following a challenging first half of the 2025 Formula 1 season, Ferrari has placed significant hope on these suspension adjustments to turn their fortunes around. Motorsport.IT reports that Ferrari has received approval to run the new suspension at the Spa-Francorchamps race next weekend.
However, early indications are not very promising. Leclerc expressed skepticism about the initial impact of the upgrade, mentioning there was no "significant difference" compared to the previous setup. On Thursday morning, Leclerc drove the SF-25, and in the afternoon, Hamilton took over with Ferrari’s technical director, Lois Cera, present to evaluate the changes.
Throughout the season, Ferrari has struggled with poor suspension setups, making it difficult to achieve the optimum ride and push the car to its limits. This has resulted in trouble finding the best setup and compromised driving performance. Both Ferraris were disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix due to excessive wear on the plank, and since then, Leclerc and Hamilton have had to spend a lot of time trying to optimize the car’s setup.
Both drivers have also been forced to lift off the throttle during races to manage other issues. Ferrari remains the only team among the top four in the Constructors’ Championship yet to record a race win. The SF-25 has shown strong race-day performance but has struggled to match the qualifying pace of rivals like McLaren.
The new suspension aims to provide better control of ground expansion and reduce underfloor board wear. It should also deliver more consistent aerodynamic loads, allowing drivers to maintain steadier performance. Despite these goals, Leclerc’s initial feedback suggests the upgrade did not offer a notable improvement.
Ferrari will have just one practice session at Spa to fine-tune the car before the race weekend.
Fan Take: This development is crucial for Ferrari fans and F1 enthusiasts alike, as it highlights the ongoing battle to optimize performance in a fiercely competitive season. Whether Ferrari can turn this upgrade into a breakthrough could reshape the championship dynamics and ignite new excitement in the sport.
