To everyone's surprise, Ferrari recently organized a private test session at the Mugello circuit, owned by the company. Scuderiadiscreetly. Away from the spotlight, the Maranello team deployed the former Formula 1 SF-23 for secret rolling, with the specific aim of improving the correlation between simulation data and on-track reality.
Antonio Giovinazzi, former Alfa Romeo F1 driver and now an active member of Ferrari's development program, was at the wheel of the number 39 single-seater. The Italian, familiar with the Maranello simulator, continues to provide invaluable support to the Scuderia at the start of the 2025 season.
Contrary to what is usually done with the TPC (Testing Previous Cars) program, Ferrari has made no official announcement about the test day. What's more, the operation was shrouded in a certain mystery: spectators were even asked to leave the circuit, a sign of the strategic importance of this test.
The objective was clear: to resolve the problems of correlation between virtual tools, such as the wind tunnel, and real-world performance. Since the start of the season, the SF-25 has shown a noticeable performance deficit, particularly in terms of aerodynamic downforce in fast corners, preventing Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton from fully competing with Red Bull and McLaren. The difficulties encountered at the Chinese Grand Prix, with excessive wear on the skids under the car when it is lowered to maximize downforce, illustrate these limitations.
By choosing Mugello, a demanding track in terms of aerodynamic support, Ferrari was right on target. This ideal environment made it possible to collect invaluable data, essential before the arrival of major aerodynamic updates scheduled for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, and then for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
While current regulations severely limit testing with current single-seaters, this type of session is becoming essential for fine-tune settings and ensure that the evolutions expected in the wind tunnel have the desired effect on the track.
Ferrari enters an intense phase of work, with two crucial weeks to make up for lost time and take the SF-25 to the next level. The stakes are high: regain a place among the contenders for victory and revive the positive momentum surrounding the 2025 project.
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Aren't those " secret tests illegal, or is it just for other teams?
No it's not too late on icroi
Long gone are the days when teams defended their knowledge and were able to choose this or that tire manufacturer. F1 has become a slot machine with no respect for the drivers. Some mythical circuits have been or will be abandoned in order to bring in more and more TV rights and make the public pay more. Personally, I used to watch F1 with a passion. Since the rights owners changed their policy, a summary is more than enough.