Ferrari’s SF-25 Suspension Overhaul: The Make-or-Break Moment at Mugello

Next week, when the Ferrari SF-25 rolls out onto the demanding tarmac of Mugello, it won’t just be a routine filming day. It could very well mark a defining turning point in Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 campaign. After months of chasing elusive performance, the Scuderia will debut a major rear suspension upgrade aimed at correcting a fundamental flaw that has plagued the car since its first laps in pre-season testing.

The SF-25 has shown flashes of potential throughout the season, but never with enough consistency to mount a serious challenge to Red Bull or McLaren. A critical flaw in the rear suspension geometry has severely limited the car’s performance window, particularly impacting its ability to maintain optimal ride height, manage tire degradation, and fully exploit the complex aerodynamic floor.

The Suspension Bottleneck

Ferrari’s engineers discovered that under dynamic loads—changes in speed, fuel weight, and cornering—the rear of the car failed to maintain a stable ride height. This inconsistency destabilized the aerodynamic platform, which in turn degraded floor performance and increased plank wear. The compromise: raise the car to avoid scraping, sacrificing downforce and lap time in the process.

To fix this, Ferrari has designed a new rear suspension system that incorporates longer-rated components and revised kinematics. These changes aim to offer a more linear response to load variations and improve mechanical compliance—especially over curbs and uneven surfaces, which have frequently unsettled the SF-25 and cost drivers valuable tenths.

Why Mugello?

Choosing Mugello for this critical test is no accident. Unlike Ferrari’s private Fiorano track, Mugello provides a more punishing and representative test bed for high-speed suspension performance. Its long, sweeping corners and varied camber profiles stress mechanical balance and aerodynamic stability to the limit—exactly what Ferrari needs to validate this update.

Ferrari’s engineers will use this session not merely to log mileage, but to conduct a rigorous data-gathering exercise. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will run a series of tests under varying fuel loads, cornering scenarios, and speed profiles. Engineers will track telemetry data such as damper velocities, load distribution, and heave rates to see if the suspension delivers the expected ride behavior and stability.

The Drivers’ Perspective

The upgrade comes at a pivotal time for both Hamilton and Leclerc. For Hamilton, this season is supposed to be a redemption arc—a chance to reignite his championship hopes after joining Ferrari in a high-profile move. But the SF-25 has forced him to drive conservatively, negotiating instability instead of attacking corners. This has dulled his edge and tested his trust in the machinery.

Leclerc, meanwhile, has often outqualified Hamilton but struggled to maintain pace over long stints. The result: inconsistency, frustration, and a tense relationship with the engineering team. Both drivers see this test not just as a technical opportunity, but as a psychological one—to restore confidence and reclaim agency in shaping the car’s development.

More Than Just a Fix

This suspension update is more than a parts swap. It’s Ferrari’s chance to fix longstanding correlation issues between their simulation tools and real-world performance. For years, data from Ferrari’s wind tunnel and simulator haven’t translated to consistent results on track—a flaw that has derailed multiple development programs.

If the Mugello test produces positive feedback from both drivers, and that feedback aligns with the engineers’ expectations, it could finally close the loop between theory and reality. That alone would be a massive cultural and technical victory for Ferrari’s racing division.

What’s at Stake

As the 2025 season approaches its midpoint, Ferrari finds itself trailing Red Bull and McLaren in both the constructors’ and drivers’ standings. With over half the calendar remaining, there’s still time to turn things around—but the margin for error is shrinking.

The new suspension could unlock crucial performance gains heading into Spa, Monza, and other high-speed circuits where aerodynamic load is king. A consistent rear platform would allow Ferrari to lower ride height, increase floor efficiency, and improve tire wear—key ingredients for podium contention.

If it works, Ferrari could overtake McLaren in the battle for second in the constructors’ standings, and potentially launch a late-season charge to close the gap to Red Bull. More optimistically, it might give Hamilton the machinery he needs to claw back a 50-point deficit to Verstappen and keep his dream of an eighth title alive.

The Bigger Picture: A Pivot for 2026

The significance of this upgrade goes beyond 2025. With sweeping regulation changes coming in 2026, Ferrari is effectively using this test as a proving ground for the core mechanical principles that will define their next-generation car.

A successful suspension redesign would offer a repeatable, reliable blueprint for future chassis architecture—one built not just on theoretical models, but on validated, track-tested feedback. That’s critical if Ferrari wants to regain its status as a technical leader in the sport, rather than a reactive challenger.

Moreover, a working solution to the rear suspension issue would finally give Ferrari the confidence to pursue more aggressive setup strategies. Instead of constantly hedging against a weak rear end, engineers could focus on race-specific optimizations and weight distribution tweaks. In turn, both Hamilton and Leclerc would be freed to push harder in qualifying and races, knowing the car will support their input.

A Cultural Shift at Maranello

For Ferrari’s technical leadership, this moment represents a chance to rewrite the narrative that has dogged the team for the past decade. From the Rory Byrne-led glory days of the early 2000s—when meticulous mechanical design powered Schumacher to dominance—to the recent struggles with ground effect dynamics and inconsistent aero-platforms, Ferrari’s story has been one of brilliant highs and baffling lows.

Testing at Mugello evokes that sense of heritage. The Tuscan circuit has long been a testing ground for Ferrari’s most ambitious technical ideas. If this new rear suspension proves effective, it won’t just be a functional upgrade. It will signal that Ferrari is once again willing to take bold, risky decisions in pursuit of greatness.

Final Thoughts

As the SF-25 hits the track next week at Mugello, all eyes in the paddock—and at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters—will be watching closely. This isn’t just a shakedown or a data session. It’s Ferrari’s mid-season reckoning. If this suspension delivers as hoped, it could become the keystone of their 2025 resurgence and the foundation of their 2026 revolution.

And if it doesn’t? The questions about Ferrari’s ability to convert potential into performance will grow louder, and the window for Hamilton’s eighth title—and Leclerc’s first—will begin to close.

This is more than a test. It’s a statement of intent. And perhaps, the start of a renaissance.

Full Video: