Ferrari’s Substantial Upgrade Package for the 2025 F1 Season

The Italian racing powerhouse, Ferrari, has introduced a significant upgrade package to its underperforming SF-25 car at the Bahrain Grand Prix. This update focuses on enhancing downforce through a revamped floor design, aiming to improve the team’s current fourth position in the constructors’ standings, 76 points behind leaders McLaren.

Key Components of the Upgrade Package

The upgrade includes re-profiled floor fences, a modified leading edge to the floor, reshaped wings, and an expanded rear tunnel. This comprehensive package is designed to boost performance incrementally rather than through a complete overhaul.

Ferrari deputy team principal Jérôme d’Ambrosio has cautioned against high expectations for this upgrade, stating that it’s more about adding small improvements to the car’s performance rather than revolutionizing its overall capabilities.

The Season So Far for Ferrari

The start of the 2025 season has been challenging for Ferrari. Despite Lewis Hamilton’s dominant win during the China sprint race, the team is yet to replicate such levels of performance. In fact, both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified in the race due to excessive plank wear and being underweight, respectively.

These incidents have sparked speculation about Ferrari running their car at a higher ride height than they’d prefer. However, d’Ambrosio has downplayed this issue, suggesting that it’s a common practice within the regulations to find the optimal balance of downforce and ride height during a race weekend.

The Challenge of Setting Up the Ferrari

When asked about the perceived difficulty in setting up the Ferrari compared to its rivals, d’Ambrosio was noncommittal, stating that it’s an area where all teams strive for performance and find their limits.

What’s Next for Ferrari?

D’Ambrosio has admitted that the decision on further upgrade packages will depend on balancing the development of the 2025 car with the work on the 2026 model. He also emphasized that there’s no one area to focus on, and the team is working on a mix of improvements to balance, downforce, and overall performance.

The approach is about making small gains in many areas rather than focusing on a single issue. This steady, incremental improvement strategy is Ferrari‘s chosen path towards moving forward.