Ready for a shift, Ferrari’s 2025 car will feature front suspension more in line with Red Bull’s design, possibly hinting at Adrian Newey’s future involvement with the team.
Ferrari is rumored to be leading efforts to sign former Red Bull design legend Adrian Newey, who is set to leave the reigning World Champions in early 2025. While Newey’s manager, Eddie Jordan, insists no decisions have been made yet, whispers suggest that Ferrari is preparing for his arrival.
Motorsport.com sources hint that Ferrari’s designers have identified key aspects that could provide significant gains for the 2025 car, potentially giving them an edge over Red Bull and McLaren. One notable change is the potential switch to pull-rod front suspension, a design already utilized by Red Bull and McLaren. This configuration is praised for its aerodynamic benefits, particularly in improving airflow around the front of the car and through the venturi tunnels underneath.
It is speculated that Ferrari’s move towards a Red Bull-inspired front suspension aligns with their efforts to bring Adrian Newey on board to develop the 2026 car once his current contract ends. For now, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will focus on making incremental gains, with team boss Vasseur emphasizing the challenge of significant changes under the current budget cap.
Vasseur explains, ‘With the cost cap imposed by the financial regulations, it’s necessary to find a balance. In fact, we bring updates when we have something significant to bring. It’s important to remember that there is a kind of convergence of performance, and consequently, the development rate is much lower than two years ago. This means that every time a team brings an upgrade, and I think it’s the same for us, the gain is smaller than two years ago. It also means that the gains found in the setup are increasingly important, which should not be underestimated.’
‘It makes more sense to bring novelties in two or three races, and it also depends on the calendar sequence. When we have three Grand Prix without a week off, it is difficult to produce the necessary stock of spare parts. Then we must consider the Sprint weekends, and it’s not always easy to fine-tune the car with just one practice session. This means it’s not just about development and production of parts; you must consider many aspects, including the type of track where you bring the updates. Debuting with an upgrade in Monaco is quite risky, as is doing so in a sprint weekend.’
As Ferrari looks ahead to 2025 and beyond, they’re making strategic changes that could position them ahead of the competition. With Adrian Newey potentially joining the team, the future seems promising for the iconic Italian squad.
Source: Planetf1
