Hamilton and Leclerc eager to mount title challenge with the brand-new SF-25
Having just shown off their new car for the upcoming F1 season, Charles Leclerc has set clear goals, stating that he wants to fight for the world championship titles in 2025.
The car’s name, the SF-25 follows the pattern of the past two years and underlines the stability of the regulations. It is the 71st Formula 1 car built by Ferrari, the fourth of the second generation of ground effect cars introduced in 2022.
However, it is a completely new car, utilising different technical solutions to those adopted in the past. The most visible change initiated by the Loic Serra-led team is without a doubt that made to the front suspension that switches from a pushrod to a pull rod design.
Ferrari noted that the "thinking behind this change in architecture was to clean up the airflow around the car, while also giving greater scope for further aero development, which had pretty much been exhausted with the previous iteration."
Overall, the car is an evolution from every aspect when compared to last year’s, which provided a good starting point.
With the regulations relating to its architecture being frozen since 2022, the Power Unit features no technical innovations. However, the Scuderia noted "the stability of the regulations also meant that the focus moved towards a further optimisation of power unit use strategy in an effort to tailor it to suit every single race weekend situation and extract the maximum potential from its given performance."
As for the livery, the colour scheme has also changed significantly, presenting a mix of past, present and future, with a declaration of style, power and tradition. The darker shade of 2025 Racing Red with its matte finish, "evokes decades of racing, taking its inspiration from the intense tones of the early days of the Scuderia, with an angled, bold white band standing out as a distinctive feature on the car, symbolising dynamism and a vision that looks to the future."
On Wednesday, the SF-25 is due to make its track debut behind closed doors at Fiorano, running up to 200 kilometres in its first shakedown, shortly before heading to Bahrain for the one and only pre-season test session, from 26 to 28 February.
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 18, 2025
Reflecting on the new car, Leclerc said: “I’m really excited about the launch of the SF-25. Every year we push hard to improve and the whole team has been working flat out for months now.
"Last season saw a really tight fight and we came very close to taking the title. This year, our goal is clear: we want to win the Constructors’ World Championship and my personal target is to win the Drivers’ Title.
"Since Lewis joined the team we have already been working very closely together and I believe that his experience and approach will prove to be a source of inspiration for me. I am physically and mentally more than ready to face this new season and I can’t wait to get on track to do everything I can to put Scuderia Ferrari HP back on top.”
Speaking of his last month at the Scuderia, seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton noted: “My first few weeks have been absolutely incredible and I’ve seen first-hand the passion and dedication of the entire team, so the unveiling today of my first-ever Scuderia Ferrari HP car is really exciting.
"So much hard work has gone into preparing for the season ahead and we couldn’t be more hungry or determined to succeed. I came into the year with so much anticipation for this new chapter, and I’m even more energised now by the spirit and belief of everyone I’ve met over the past month.
"I couldn’t be prouder to be on this journey with them. I can’t wait to get out on track with Charles, push each other forward and do everything we can to take the team to the top.”
