Ahead of the upcoming Belgian GP, Scuderia Ferrari completed its second filming day of the season in Mugello. The team equipped the new rear suspension to the F1 car. It appears to have been given the green light and will be fitted to SF-25 from the race weekend in Spa-Francorchamps.
Loic Serra supervised Ferrari test for new rear suspension
The Ferrari test was disguised as a media event, but it’s understood to rather debut the new rear suspension. Loïc Serra, who joined the team from Mercedes last year, has supervised the work as the Scuderia’s technical director.
Both drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, had 19 laps around the Mugello Circuit each to complete. The new specification adopts a revised pull-rod design. It includes a different upper wishbone geometry and a new attachment point to the gearbox.
With that change to the rear suspension, Ferrari aims to make its F1 car more stable under braking and during changes to the load. It also improves the ride height management. Next to that, not only a performance boost is being aimed at, but also the fact to set up the car easier.
In Belgium, Ferrari will have only one practice session to test the rear suspension. This is due to the Sprint weekend, which makes a return.
Leclerc did not notice any substantial differences
Ferrari struggled with excessive consumption of the lower part of the chassis. In China, both Ferrari cars have been disqualified for excessive plank wear. The engineers found out that when the car is particularly loaded with fuel and subjected to strong aerodynamic pressure, the wear was at it’s highest. Therefore, the car’s ride height needed to be adjusted, costing performance.
Although the test in Mugello was carried out on demonstration tyres and with possibilities for setting changes being limited, only some data was gathered. Ferrari will analyse it in the simulator.
Leclerc has not noticed a significant difference between both versions. However, looking into the data, a more controlled behaviour has been found. Particularly, that was seen in regard to the rear.
Formula 1 returns in Belgium for the 13th round of the 2025 calendar. Ferrari is yet to win a grand prix, with Hamilton taking first place in the Sprint of the Chinese Grand Prix.
