Ferrari’s rear-end rethink is getting a thumbs-up from its most high-profile signing. Lewis Hamilton says the SF-25’s new rear-suspension package, rolled out at Spa, has genuinely moved the car on — even if McLaren remain a speck on the horizon.
“The upgrade is a real positive,” Hamilton said over the Hungary weekend. “There’s more to extract from it and we’re still fine-tuning.” He didn’t dress it up beyond that: “We’re not currently at the pace of the McLaren. Whether or not we will, I have no idea.”
The timeline tallies with Ferrari’s recent flashes. Charles Leclerc grabbed a podium in Belgium, then stunned the paddock seven days later by nicking pole in Budapest — Ferrari’s and his first of the year — before slipping to fourth in the race when a pesky chassis gremlin undid the promise. Hamilton, meanwhile, missed Q3 and finished where he started in 12th, but remained upbeat on the direction of travel: “Definitely some improvements. The car is progressing — we just have to keep trying to extract more.”
That message matters because Ferrari’s 2025 intent was clear: fight for titles. The reality is harsher. The team sits second in the Constructors’ standings, but McLaren have checked out with a 299-point cushion and look on course for the double. Inside Maranello, the scoreboard is equally stark. Leclerc has been the sharper spear so far with five podiums; Hamilton is still chasing his first top-three in red. Leclerc holds fifth in the Drivers’ standings, 42 points ahead of his new teammate.
Does the upgrade change the big picture? Not yet — but it’s altered the feel. Hamilton talks about a car that’s starting to respond, that gives him a platform to lean on, even if the final chunk of performance remains elusive. And Leclerc’s Hungary pole wasn’t a fluke. There’s qualifying bite in this SF-25 when the window is right.
The frustration, of course, is Sunday. Ferrari’s race execution and reliability wobbles keep stepping on their own momentum. Leclerc’s Budapest radio ire — later softened once the chassis issue was identified — summed up the tension: the speed is there in bursts, but the conversion rate isn’t.
Still, upgrades that hit the mark are the currency of a long season. Ferrari finally seem to have one that does. If the team can pair it with cleaner races and a touch more tyre life, those Spa and Budapest hints might turn into something heavier. Until then, the view up the road is papaya-coloured.
