Ferrari's Game-Changing Rear Suspension

Ferrari is rolling into the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa this weekend with a brand new rear suspension setup on the SF-25. This is a bold movement after months of development and it could be a turning point for the rest of their season.

What's new?

During their two-day filming session at Mugello, Ferrari tested a new and revised upper rear wishbone. The new upper rear wishbone is now several centimeters lower, resembling upgrades done by McLaren and Mercedes.

This adjustment helps stabilize the car's pitch while braking and accelerating, which will help enhance the aerodynamic stability of the car across fast and slow corners.

Why does this matter?

Up until now, Ferrari has struggled with their rear-end behaviour all season. This upgrade can help ease these issues. Ferrari also faced ride height issues that disqualified them from racing in China, as well as some inconsistency within braking zones. This upgrade aims to target their setup flexibility and to help deliver more consistency when it comes to aerodynamic downforce during mid and high speeds.

Test Takeaways

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both drove the SF-25 for around 19 laps to gather more data and information on the upgrade. Leclerc reported no immediate change; however, the team engineers found this upgrade promising enough to bring it to Spa.

Can this hurt Ferrari?

Adding and adapting to a new setup mid-season can be risky. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration with this. Spas sprint weekend format drains from track time; the real-world timing and sorting under race conditions are limited. This could make it harder for new setups to settle properly. As well as the real GP distance has yet to be tested.

What to watch for

We should watch the qualifying, as we will see if the SF-25 can handle braking zones more securely with the upgraded wishbone angle. We should also watch the sprint race, as it will reveal how the updated suspension will do stability-wise on cold tires. The final thing to watch for is the GP itself. It's the final test. Can the SF-25 have consistent balance on 40+ laps at Spa?

Final thoughts

Ferrari and fans are betting big on the new rear suspension upgrade to address the well-known RS-25 stability issues. If this works at Spa, it could be the kick that Ferrari needs to even remotely challenge McLaren for top honours. If it doesn't bring the kick, this upgrade will still be laying the groundwork for the rest of their 2025 season and will help plan their 2026 season car development.