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Ferrari could be tempted to make an overhaul with its 2025 challenger For Lewis Hamilton’s arrival.
Ferrari has made progress, closing the performance gap to Red Bull in 2024 (Image Credit: Peter Fox – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)The Maranello team could be tempted to finally go down Red Bull’s route of having a pull-rod suspension concept.
The 2024 season has been Ferrari’s most competitive season since the start of the ground-effect regulations in 2022.
The progress made by the Italian team in 2024 has been positive. The teeam has gone from podium challengers to fighting for race wins. Currently, there is a three-way fight between themselves, Red Bull and McLaren.
Ferrari won its first race since the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, as Charles Leclerc won his home race in Monaco.
The Maranello team made good gains after upgrades in Imola. The team plans to have its next upgrade at the British Grand prix – having originally planned it for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Gains much harder than initially realised
Despite Ferrari making freat progress this season, team principal Fred Vasseur admits that making gains is much harder to realise. The Frenchman said:
“With the cost cap and the current regulation, you have to manage both sides and we will bring upgrades when we have something to bring.”
“What you have to keep in mind is that you have a kind of convergence of performance and the development rate is much lower than it was two years ago.
“It means that each time that someone is bringing an upgrade, and I think it’s true for us, but it’s true for everybody, the gain is smaller than it was two years ago, and this is normal.”
Ferrari working hard on 2025 car already
With the team’s acceptance of not making the most of the current momentum, it has resulted in speculation of the team making significant changes in 2025.
Work has already started for its 2025 car in Maranello. Vasseur says that there were three separate projects underway.
“Part of the team is working on the next updates that we will see during this season, and another is already focused on next year’s single-seater,” he said.
“We have already given the go-ahead to the 2025 car.”
The 2025 challenger is believed to be a lot more different to its current 2024 challenger. The team seem to be willing to make significant changes to the car. Therefore, there won’t be any resources wasted for the 2026 rules.
It is believed that Ferrari will finally cave in with its own suspnesion desgin. Therefore, the Maranello team may switch to a pull-rod front suspension. It is most likley that the Scuderia will make the switch in 2026 anyway.
Both of the team’s rivals Red Bull and McLaren already have the pull-rod front suspension. The design is efficient in providing airflow around the front of the car and to the venturi tunnels underneath.
Another factor in switching could be with the team trying to sing Adrian Newey. Newey has been at Red Bull, where he has designed the pull-rod front suspension.
The Scuderia are currently second in the constructors’ championship – 24 points behind leaders Red Bull. Will Ferrari make the switch next year?
Feature Image Credit: Clive Rose via Getty Images
