Innovation
Analysing Ferrari’s first big upgrade package of the 2025 Formula 1 season in Bahrain
by Rosario Giuliana
5min read
Ferrari unveiled its first Formula 1 aerodynamic updates of 2025 with a suite of parts at the fourth race of the year: the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix.
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In an era of F1 where the aerodynamics generated by the car's underfloor is crucial to overall performance, the work carried out at Maranello in this area is a first step in improving the SF-25.
Ferrari made wide ranging changes to its floor including reshaped areas behind the floor fences to direct airflow to the floor vanes
Ferrari’s target: downforce and stability
The new underbody introduced in Bahrain clearly aims to improve balance and ground effect load generation, two critical areas in the management of the car's dynamic behaviour.
The main changes from Ferrari’s first upgrade package of 2025
Ferrari has revised the geometry of the outer edge of the floor, with a more accentuated shaping in the central and terminal areas. This allows more effective management of vortex shedding - the vortices of airflow that run alongside the floor and help create a vacuum of low-pressure flow underneath the car to enhance downforce.
Comparison of the old Ferrari floor and the new one (below) with new vanes directing vortices around the underfloor
A different conformation of the longitudinal channels that direct air to the frontal area of the floor was observed. The outer fence has changed at the top, while an inner fence has a slightly different shape at the top. Also updated is the (Side Impact Protection System) SIPS cover, which directs the airflow towards the undercut. An overall update that improves the flow to the diffuser, increasing aerodynamic efficiency without compromising cornering stability.
The inner fence (purple) has a slightly different shape as does the outer fence (green) on the new Ferrari floor (below)
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Comparison showing subtle changes between the old Ferrari diffuser (above) and the new one (below)
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Effects of the SF-25 F1 Bahrain upgrade
During the Friday and Saturday free practice sessions, the SF-25 showed much more stable behaviour in medium-fast corners compared to winter testing. The rear end feels less nervous on corner entry, a sign that the increased load at the rear has had a positive impact.
In addition, GPS data indicates better traction coming out of the corners, especially in sector 2 of the Sakhir circuit.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton’s verdict
Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth in the race, spoke of some overall improvements, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton (fifth in the race) made it clear that the upgrade improved the car. The importance is to have “a more predictable platform”.
It is not a revolution, but a precise refinement that aims to make the single-seater more balanced and competitive, especially on the more difficult circuits that will come after Bahrain such as Monaco.
