Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 campaign has been an emotional rollercoaster. After a series of performances that left fans and engineers alike searching for answers, the team finally rolled out its much-anticipated rear suspension upgrade at the Mugello test.

This upgrade was supposed to be a game-changer—a long-awaited fix to the one flaw that had been plaguing Ferrari’s SF25 since the season opener in Melbourne: ride height instability.

However, what was expected to be a breakthrough moment in their season quickly turned into a sobering reality check.

The Promise of the Rear Suspension Upgrade

The rear suspension was touted as a critical development, designed to address Ferrari’s inconsistent ride height, a factor that has led to significant performance losses. Ride height instability affects everything from high-speed cornering to aerodynamics and tire wear. More specifically, the SF25’s struggles with its ride height have resulted in bottoming out during corners, causing a loss of downforce and straight-line balance, particularly after their disqualification in China for excessive plank wear. To mitigate this, the team has been forced to run a higher car floor, a trade-off that reduced their downforce potential and hampered their ability to maintain stability.

Ferrari’s hope for the suspension upgrade was that it would allow for more aggressive rake setups, improving rear-end compliance and load transition through braking zones, mid-corner pivots, and traction exits. These changes were expected to restore the balance Ferrari had lost, enabling the car to perform at its maximum potential without compromising stability. Alongside this, an update to the floor introduced in Austria was supposed to further enhance the car’s performance, promising a modest gain of around one-tenth of a second per lap—at least in simulations.

The Mugello Test: A Reality Check

When the rear suspension upgrade was finally tested at Mugello, the results were not as promising as Ferrari had hoped. Despite all the anticipation, the drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, delivered a unified verdict: no dramatic gains, no transformed handling, just more of the same. Hamilton, known for his precise feedback, and Leclerc, whose emotional connection to Ferrari is undeniable, both expressed skepticism after the test. The expected improvements were simply not there. What Ferrari had hoped would be a clear turning point felt more like a stall, leaving the team questioning whether they were truly on the right path.

However, the limited conditions during the test were a significant factor. The test at Mugello was restricted to demo tires, fixed setups, and promotional constraints. With no race-spec rubber, no qualifying fuel loads, and no opportunity for full setup adjustments, the drivers were unable to test the car in the same conditions they would face in a competitive race. This made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions from the data collected.

Yet, despite these constraints, Ferrari’s simulation data suggested that the upgrade could offer modest improvements, especially when paired with the new floor. But the real question was whether these improvements would be evident under the competitive conditions of a race weekend—conditions that Ferrari could not afford to misjudge.

The Spa Gamble

The timing of the upgrade was especially critical, as Ferrari faced the looming challenge of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Spa is one of the most unpredictable circuits on the calendar, and with a sprint weekend format, Ferrari would have very little practice time to fine-tune their setup. The team faced a brutal gamble: debut the upgrade under high-pressure, uncertain conditions, or retreat and risk conceding that 2025 may be another missed opportunity.

This dilemma was further complicated by the fact that Ferrari’s closest competitors, Mercedes, were just 12 points behind them in the constructor’s standings. Normally, such a margin could be manageable. But in a sprint weekend, where only one hour of practice precedes the all-important qualifying session, a single misstep could cost Ferrari not just points, but possibly their second-place position in the constructors’ championship.

The stakes were clear. If the suspension upgrade worked under race conditions, Ferrari might finally unlock the aggressive setups they had been forced to abandon earlier in the season, opening the door to reclaiming lost tenths in qualifying and gaining more flexibility during the race. However, if it failed to deliver, the consequences could be dire—not only would they risk losing second place, but they could also find themselves at a crossroads in the development of their 2025 car. For Hamilton, the pressure to abandon the 2025 project and focus on the 2026 car would only grow stronger, making the Belgian Grand Prix a defining moment in Ferrari’s future.

Human Pressure and Driver Dynamics

While the technical risks are apparent, the human element cannot be overlooked. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, was supposed to be part of a Ferrari revival. But the frustration is becoming palpable. Hamilton’s feedback after the Mugello test—a lack of noticeable improvement—is more than just a critique of the car’s performance; it’s a warning of deeper psychological tension. Hamilton has been here before with Mercedes, watching development windows close and feeling the sting of potential unfulfilled. With just one podium finish so far in 2025, his patience is wearing thin, and he is quietly urging the team to shift its focus to the 2026 car project.

On the other hand, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s local hero, is also feeling the weight of the team’s struggles. His growing frustration with the car’s lack of precision, especially in high-speed corners, is clear. Leclerc’s complaints about steering instability and tire wear are becoming more insistent, particularly after the chaotic race at Silverstone. For a driver who has spent years at Ferrari, battling both technical issues and strategic missteps, the pressure is mounting. While he remains diplomatic in public, insiders know that Leclerc’s patience is wearing thin, and his commitment to Ferrari’s long-term future is in question.

Both Hamilton and Leclerc are aligned in their expectation of more from the team’s upgrades. The lack of a significant breakthrough at Mugello has intensified the skepticism within Ferrari’s garage. What was supposed to be a new chapter in Ferrari’s season now feels like a continuation of their perennial struggle to unlock their car’s potential.

The Legacy of Ferrari’s Mid-Season Upgrades

The situation Ferrari finds itself in now is painfully familiar. The team’s history with mid-season upgrades is a mixed one, filled with both flashes of promise and disappointing outcomes. In 2019, a highly anticipated aero upgrade failed to live up to expectations, unraveling with inconsistent correlation between wind tunnel and track data. In 2022, Ferrari started the season as title contenders but fell behind as development stagnated and operational errors piled up. Now, in 2025, the rear suspension upgrade is being hailed internally as a potential season relaunch, but the uncertainty surrounding it echoes past attempts at redemption that ultimately fell short.

Spa-Francorchamps, with its unforgiving nature and high-speed corners, will expose any instability in Ferrari’s setup. The circuit demands aerodynamic confidence and stability—qualities that the SF25, even with its revised suspension, still seems to lack. For both Hamilton and Leclerc, Spa could be a defining moment. For Hamilton, it’s a chance to reassert his dominance at a track that has been a battleground for him. For Leclerc, it’s an opportunity to show that Ferrari’s future can still be built on the foundations of their legacy.

Conclusion: The Crossroads Ahead

Ferrari stands at a crossroads. The 2025 season has so far been one of highs and lows, with their new suspension upgrade representing a last-ditch effort to turn things around. The test at Mugello did not provide the breakthrough the team had hoped for, and now all eyes are on Spa. The gamble to debut the upgrade at such an unpredictable track could define Ferrari’s season—if it works, they may regain lost ground and find the consistency they’ve been craving. If it fails, however, Ferrari may find itself caught in a cycle of missed opportunities, with the specter of 2026 looming ever larger.

The outcome of this pivotal weekend could determine the direction of Ferrari’s future in Formula 1, influencing not only their championship fight but the very course of their development. For now, the pressure is on the shoulders of both their technical team and their drivers, with the hope that Spa will not just be another chapter in Ferrari’s legacy of unfulfilled potential, but the moment they finally break free from it.

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