Ferrari's '2025 game changer' hits a snag: Hamilton issues blindsiding verdict
Lewis Hamilton
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A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Ferrari recently tested the most crucial development to their 2025 Formula One season at their home track, Mugello. However, the Scuderia's 'secret weapon' has received an unexpected verdict on it from champion Lewis Hamilton.
It is clear that the results reaped in 2025 have not been up to par with Ferrari's standards. The team that is always expected to vy for wins and titles have but a P2 at Monaco as their top finishing position this season.
Fixing the issues linked to the SF-25 have been at the top of the Scuderia's priority list, and following the effective floor update implemented at the Austrian Grand Prix two race weekends ago, the new rear suspension was poised as the next big step.
A tenth overall increase in lap time was the reported expected gain of on-track performance from the upcoming update expected to make its grand debut at the Belgian Grand Prix.
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Ferrari's new rear suspension gains, like their current car's potential, remain hidden
However, as things usually go in the business of F1 nowdays, there's a small caveat: The rewards of the new rear suspension remain locked.
Since the start of the 2025 season all parties at Ferrari have pointed to the unexploited potential in the SF-25, which can only be accessed by getting the configuration of the car absolutely perfect.
Now reports from the Italian branch of Motorsport indicate that this is to be the case with the new rear suspension as well.
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Hamilton and Leclerc unimpressed with the performance yielded from Ferrari's 'secret weapon'
In fact, the publication reveals that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have also given their verdict on the new upgrade, having already ran it, and it's not the one anyone expected.
It is reported both drivers shared similar feedback, stating that they had not felt important changes of the car's behaviour in the 200km test at Mugello split at 100km a piece.
Does this mean that Ferrari's long awaited upgrade package yielded no results at all?
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'Ferrari to premiere rear suspension at Spa without fear'
The race weekend in Belgium is a sprint format one, and the Scuderia are still going ahead with the introduction of the redesigned rear suspension confident they can nail the setup and extract the promising extra tenth.
After all, whilst drivers may have reported no significant differences in terms of behaviour, this was only in the high speed corners of the Italian team's home track.
Reportedly the data gathered by Ferrari shows improvements in the slow-speed corners where Hamilton and Leclerc have struggled audibly throughout the season.
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So, a fearless Ferrari heads for the Belgian Ardennes with an upgrade under their sleeve which they hope will set them up for a much better outcome as their technical team now reportedly switches complete focus to the 2026 season.
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