At the Austrian Grand Prix, Ferrari introduced a series of significant upgrades focused on addressing challenges that have affected their 2025 campaign. The Italian team has struggled with their SF-25 car’s setup, which has hampered qualifying and race-day results due to its sensitivity to ride height and ground effect. Charles Leclerc Ferrari Austria upgrades represent an important attempt to reverse these difficulties.
Technical Changes Target Key Aerodynamic Issues
The SF-25’s original design required running the car lower to maximize ground effect, but this proved challenging to achieve consistently. Ferrari often had to operate at higher ride heights, limiting their ability to extract maximum performance during qualifying. To tackle this, the team rolled out a new floor package that includes revised front floor fences to better manage airflow and release vortices downstream.
Another significant modification is the redesigned floor ‘edge wing,’ intended to improve ground effect and aerodynamic efficiency. These changes should help balance load distribution across different operating conditions, ultimately enhancing the car’s stability and speed on track.
Leclerc Reflects on Progress and the Path Ahead
Charles Leclerc noted the ongoing struggle to find the perfect setup window for qualifying, which has hindered converting raw pace into strong race results. Despite the optimistic upgrade package, he cautioned that immediate gains may be limited and emphasized the importance of continuous development and precise tuning to fully unlock the improvements.
“The team’s struggle to push the car to its limits during qualifying sessions leads to setbacks in translating that pace into race results.” —Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
“The performance gains may not be instantly noticeable. Further development and fine-tuning are needed to maximize the potential of the new components.” —Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Potential Impact on Ferrari’s Season and F1 Championship Battle
With these upgrades, Ferrari hopes to close the gap to their rivals and strengthen their challenge for victories as the season advances. While the changes may not deliver a dramatic leap in performance overnight, even small aerodynamic improvements can have a significant impact in Formula 1’s fiercely competitive environment.
The Austrian Grand Prix updates could serve as a turning point for Ferrari, helping the team regain its edge and consistency on the track. Fans and competitors alike will be watching closely as Leclerc and the Scuderia attempt to capitalize on these enhancements and climb back toward the front of the grid.