F1 information: Ferrari’s SF-25 revealed forward of 2025 season

On Tuesday Components 1 held its first-ever season launch occasion, with all ten groups gathering at The O2 in London to unveil their liveries for the upcoming season. One of many night time’s most-anticipated moments? When Lewis Hamilton walked out with Ferrari, in his public debut with the Scuderia.

Nonetheless, an excellent greater public debut got here for the staff on Wednesday at their check monitor. Ferrari put the SF-25, their challenger for the 2025 season, by way of its paces on the staff’s check monitor in Fiorano:

Charles Leclerc took to the monitor within the morning session, with Hamilton scheduled to drive later within the day:

Later within the day Ferrari shared a clip of Hamilton rocketing across the check monitor:

Between photographs launched by the staff on social media and these movies, we will begin diving into the adjustments Ferrari has made for the SF-25.

A swap to a pull-rod suspension with the SF-25

One of many greatest adjustments? A swap to a pull-rod entrance suspension for the SF-25, a departure from the push-rod configuration utilized by the staff in earlier seasons.

As for the distinction between a push-rod and a pull-rod design? We are able to flip to this dialogue between the 2, with the distinction outlined on this 2023 piece from F1:

That rod which connects the highest of the wheel to the torsion spring is named the ‘pull-rod’ or ‘push-rod’. That’s as a result of the rod may be mounted to ‘pull’ or ‘push’ that spring.

In a pull-rod configuration, the rod is mounted at a diagonal angle from a low level on the chassis, as much as the next level on the wheel meeting. When a tyre goes over a bump, the wheel pulls the torsion spring by way of the pull-rod, pulling the rod up and outwards from the chassis.

In a push-rod configuration, it’s mounted the other approach, so once more at a diagonal angle, however larger on the chassis and decrease on the wheel meeting. When the tyre goes over a bump, the wheel pushes the torsion spring by way of the push-rod, pushing the rod upwards and in the direction of the chassis.

The video contained in that piece is price a watch.

In earlier seasons, similar to with final yr’s SF-24, Ferrari used a push-rod configuration. The rod was mounted at the next level on the chassis, and decrease on the wheel meeting. You possibly can see that configuration on this photograph of Leclerc’s SF-24 on the Miami Grand Prix:

Mark Schofield

As you possibly can see, within the space highlighted with the crimson field you see the push-rod design, with the rod mounted larger on the chassis and decrease on the wheel.

As you possibly can see from this picture of the SF-25 launched by the staff, this season’s challenger has a pull-rod design, with the rod mounted at a decrease level on the chassis, and the next level on the wheel:

Ferrari defined the reasoning for this swap, which fashions a configuration utilized by McLaren and Crimson Bull:

“Probably the most seen change initiated by the Loic Serra-led staff is undoubtedly that made to the entrance suspension that switches from a pushrod to a pull rod design. The considering behind this transformation in structure was to wash up the airflow across the automotive, whereas additionally giving larger scope for additional aero growth, which had just about been exhausted with the earlier iteration.”

Sidepod adjustments to the SF-25

Ferrari’s SF-25 additionally incorporates some adjustments to the sidepods, a few of which the staff started rolling out throughout the 2024 season. The primary is using an “overbite” air inlet on the entrance of the sidepods, a change from how the staff started the 2024 marketing campaign with the SF-24. Final yr Ferrari started the season with an “underbite” configuration, which you’ll see on this picture from the 2024 Miami Grand Prix:

Nonetheless, forward of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Ferrari made the swap to an overbite configuration, which is how they’re starting the yr with the SF-25:

As well as, the sidepods themselves are extra streamlined, with extra of a channel lower out within the sidepod under the consumption.

Moreover, the SF-25 makes the swap to the P-shape entrance inlet utilized by different groups on the grid, which replaces the twin vertical/horizontal configuration utilized by Ferrari final season.

Engine cowl adjustments to the SF-25

Trying on the engine cowl of the SF-25, the “shark fin” design is much less pronounced than it was within the SF-24. Whereas the SF-24 additionally had three air shops alongside the engine cowl, Ferrari has opted for a single air outlet with the SF-25:

Ground adjustments to the SF-25

Lastly, the SF-25 has some detailing to the ground edge much like how the staff completed the 2024 season:

Evaluate that picture with this {photograph} from the 2024 Miami Grand Prix:

Ferrari started updating the ground edge to the SF-24 within the latter levels of the 2024 season, introducing adjustments in an improve package deal the staff dropped at Monza. The SF-25 incorporates lots of these adjustments to the ground edge with the SF-25. These adjustments to the ground edge had been launched to enhance aerodynamics and airflow.

Will these adjustments to the SF-25 work? We’ll begin getting these solutions subsequent week with pre-season testing.