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No Formula 1 team has achieved more victories at the Belgian Grand Prix than Scuderia Ferrari, but as they head to Spa-Francorchamps in 2025, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are still searching for their first win at the iconic circuit since the team’s last triumph there in 2019.
That 2019 Belgian Grand Prix holds particular significance for Charles Leclerc, as it marked the first Formula 1 win of his career. The Monegasque driver had been promoted to Ferrari from Sauber for the 2019 season, and he delivered in style by taking pole position and securing Ferrari’s 18th Belgian GP win — a race that still stands as one of his eight career victories to date.
Fast forward to 2025, and Ferrari is still waiting to celebrate a Grand Prix win with Lewis Hamilton, who joined the Maranello-based team at the beginning of the season. The seven-time world champion, who turned 40 earlier this year, has yet to secure even a podium finish in Ferrari red. However, Hamilton remains the second-most successful driver in Belgian Grand Prix history, with five victories to his name.
Hamilton’s most recent win at Spa came just last year in the 2024 edition of the race, marking his final triumph as a Mercedes driver. That victory came under unusual circumstances, as teammate George Russell was disqualified after his car was found to be underweight, handing the win to Hamilton.
Ferrari enters the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix with high hopes and a crucial new development: a rear suspension upgrade for the SF-25. The Scuderia is currently the only one of Formula 1’s top four teams without a race win or pole position this season, making Spa a pivotal opportunity to turn their campaign around.
The Italian outfit trialed the rear suspension upgrade during a recent filming day at Mugello, taking advantage of the 100-kilometre testing allowance for each driver under F1’s promotional event regulations. Both Hamilton and Leclerc had the opportunity to evaluate the new setup, but early reports suggest the two drivers did not walk away with the same impression.
According to Auto Action, sources close to the team have revealed that Charles Leclerc remained unconvinced by the upgrade. The Monegasque driver reportedly did not feel that the new suspension delivered a meaningful improvement to the handling characteristics of the SF-25. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton appeared far more optimistic, expressing satisfaction with the upgrade’s performance during the limited running at Mugello.
The rear suspension update is widely seen within Ferrari as the final major technical upgrade for the SF-25 this season, making its success at Spa critical for the team’s ambitions for the remainder of the year. Ferrari engineers are particularly hopeful that the change will improve the car’s behavior during sudden losses of aerodynamic load — a recurring problem that has compromised performance in fast corners.
Hamilton, in particular, is expected to benefit if the new suspension proves effective. One of his main challenges since joining Ferrari has been the unpredictable nature of the car’s rear end. Improving the SF-25’s stability and consistency could unlock more of Hamilton’s potential and help him mount a stronger challenge in the final part of the season.
Ferrari’s technical director Loïc Serra, who has been heavily involved in preparations for the 2026 regulations, temporarily shifted his focus to oversee the design and implementation of the new suspension. He was present at the Mugello test alongside team principal Frédéric Vasseur, closely monitoring the results.
The key change introduced in this upgrade is a revised mounting point for the front wishbone of the rear suspension, which is now connected directly to the gearbox. The goal is to create a more stable and predictable rear end, allowing the team to run the SF-25 lower to the ground — a setup that could yield aerodynamic gains and improve the car’s overall balance.
While Charles Leclerc remains cautious about the benefits of the upgrade, the internal feedback from the engineering team and from Hamilton has been far more positive. If the data supports those impressions during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Ferrari could finally unlock a new level of performance — and potentially claim their first win at Spa since Charles Leclerc’s breakthrough victory in 2019.
As the 2025 season enters its second half, all eyes will be on Ferrari’s performance in Belgium, and whether this rear suspension upgrade can be the turning point in their pursuit of race victories and a return to the front of the grid.
Jul 22, 2025
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