After securing second place within the Constructors’ Championship, simply 14 factors behind McLaren, Ferrari is aiming for each world titles in 2025. With Lewis Hamilton becoming a member of the staff alongside the retained Charles Leclerc, the Scuderia feels able to problem the opposite three prime groups in a technical contest that will even mark the final season for ground-effect automobiles earlier than the revolutionary 2026 rules introduce extra agile automobiles.
Frederic Vasseur has admitted that the 677 won’t share even 1% with the SF-24, which ended the 2024 season with 5 victories: “I belief the venture we’re engaged on. It will likely be one other intense problem just like the one which simply concluded. We noticed this 12 months that with 4 groups combating for poles and wins, the main points make the distinction: observe circumstances, temperatures, tires, and strategy. I’m very happy with how we dealt with difficulties this 12 months, however we have to take an additional step towards consistency.”
It was anticipated that, with engineers specializing in creating the 2026 automobiles from January 1—ushering in a clear break from the present period—the ultimate season of ground-effect automobiles would see solely advanced variations, maybe enhanced, of the 2024 fashions.
Ferrari’s daring choice to utterly redesign its automotive, as an alternative of merely refreshing it, appears to have additionally been pursued by McLaren, Pink Bull, and Mercedes. If this units the tone for 2025, we could possibly be in for an thrilling championship. The SF-24 seemingly reached the top of its improvement potential, whereas the brand new automotive begins nearly from scratch with a brand new chassis, a pull-rod entrance suspension, and a shorter gearbox that facilitates a pull-rod rear suspension aimed toward enhancing traction and making the automotive extra aggressive in qualifying.
Andrea Stella, talking at Autosprint’s Helmet Awards, revealed that McLaren has adopted an identical strategy: “We took dangers in our design selections. The strategy to subsequent season might be daring as a result of we intention for innovation. Over the summer time, as we started engaged on the 2025 automotive, we determined we wanted to make a major leap ahead if we intention to battle for the drivers’ title. We’d prefer to make the championship a bit much less shut, possibly not as tight as this 12 months. However I feel the battle will nonetheless be thrilling, with 4 groups in competition.”
Andrea Stella’s remarks naturally embody Pink Bull and Mercedes. Christian Horner, Pink Bull’s staff principal, talked about an RB21 set to debut forward of some rivals. This would be the first automotive because the RB2 with none enter from Adrian Newey, who has moved to Aston Martin.
The brand new automotive ought to have fewer design points than the RB20, which misplaced its technical edge to McLaren and was challenged by Ferrari. Pierre Waché’s staff is working exhausting to resolve the issues that affected the Milton Keynes squad within the second half of the season. Some progress was evident with Max Verstappen’s two victories within the remaining 4 races. The four-time world champion had clearly acknowledged that whereas the problems with the RB20 have been recognized, they required a brand new automotive to be absolutely addressed.
Those that imagine Adrian Newey’s departure marks the top of Pink Bull’s technical dominance may must rethink, at the very least for 2025. Enrico Balbo, Pink Bull’s Italian head of aerodynamics, will implement a much less excessive energy unit cooling system than this 12 months’s four-stage setup, leading to a automotive that breaks away from the RB20 lineage. The purpose is to safe Verstappen’s fifth consecutive world title, proving that Pink Bull can stay resilient regardless of the extraordinary controversies and challenges confronted in 2024, which included heavy criticism directed at Christian Horner.
And Mercedes? They’re relying on Simone Resta, known as in by technical director James Allison to set issues proper after the W15 solely carried out nicely in particular circumstances. The Imola-born engineer reunites with the English director, who had beforehand admired his work at Ferrari. It’s seemingly the Silver Arrow may have a brand new look, regardless of Resta initially being assigned to the 2026 automotive venture. Loic Serra’s departure to Ferrari could have shifted some priorities, however Brackley can be betting on a paradigm shift. Which staff may have made the fitting selections?
Andrea Stella has prophetically remarked that he wish to make the championship extra… boring, with a extra pronounced dominance from the papaya automobiles than what was achieved this 12 months. Nevertheless, the opposite three staff principals disagree. Even Ferrari president John Elkann expects the Scuderia to enhance on their second-place Constructors’ end, misplaced by simply 14 factors. The race seems huge open…
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