Analysis
Formula 1 Austrian GP
Here's what Ferrari is targeting with its F1 Austrian GP floor upgrades
Ferrari has brought a major upgrade to the Red Bull Ring this weekend
Jake Boxall-Legge
Edited: Jun 27, 2025, 4:37 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Mynt
Bitcoin e criptomoedas? Invista na Mynt.com.br, a plataforma cripto do BTG Pactual
Of the top Formula 1 teams, Ferrari made the largest statement with its Austrian Grand Prix updates as it hopes to undo a mixed start to the 2025 season.
The team reported updates to the four 'defined' floor sections, although it would be easier to term this as effectively an entirely new floor for the Red Bull Ring weekend; in FP1, Lewis Hamilton's car was adorned with a series of aero rakes to gauge its effectiveness on-track and to supply a data point to determine the correlation with Ferrari's simulator tools.
Most of the changes were underneath, with modifications made to the floor fences, floor body (the central section) and the diffuser, but the revised floor edges can be seen with minor geometrical updates.
This specifically relates to the floor 'edge wing', i.e. the small flick-up situated behind the front, outer fence. It's only a small change, but the below image shows the revised shape and shorter trailing section, as displayed by the rear-most flick-up and the point at which the floor straightens up along the edge.
The overall flick runs at a reduced camber, i.e. the top edge is brought further down to change the incidence of the airflow expelled from this area of the car.
Ferrari SF-25 comparison
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Getty and Martin Wdzieczny/circuitpics.de
Ferrari's pre-event technical notes state that "this floor package features updated front floor fences targeting an enhanced vorticity released downstream. The reshaped boat and tunnel expansion have been subsequently reoptimised, together with the floor edge loading and diffuser volume distribution, leading to an overall load gain across the car operating envelope".
Ferrari tends to run its SF-25 at higher ride heights, which sacrifices peak performance but should offer a modicum of greater consistency. Running the car low means that there's more reliance on the 'ground effect', where the pressure within the underbody is reduced by the forced acceleration of airflow.
Creating a lower pressure underneath means that, in layman's terms, there's a greater pressure difference experienced versus the higher pressures experienced topside. The air will naturally try to equalise that to match the air pressure at atmospheric level but, since an F1 car is not porous, the air can't get through and thus simply creates aerodynamic loading on the car.
It's harder to do this at higher ride-heights, so aerodynamicists will have to manipulate the floor design to produce that effect at the same magnitude.
Ferrari has struggled less in the races so far in 2025, but qualifying speed is missing; on a hot lap with low fuel and fresh soft tyres, the key variables are tyre temperatures, balance, and - ultimately - top-end downforce. Those features are slightly less important on a Sunday, when races come down to a measure of consistency and tyre management. You still need downforce to perform well and minimise the effect of tyre wear and degradation but, amid the other variables, the absolute need for peak downforce is diluted.
Ferrari SF-25, technical detail
Photo by: Circuitpics.de
"I think putting the tyre in the right window is always more and more difficult," Charles Leclerc said. "Maybe on that, we are missing something but overall our car limitations are making it in a way that, when you are pushing to the absolute limit in qualifying, we struggle a bit more than when you have to do tyre management in the race - where this is our strength."
It's been seen across this generation of cars that consistent downforce levels are more important than sometimes attaining a peak - and maintaining a steady level of load across all conditions, under traction, and through various corner profiles, - can ensure that a driver can be on the pace across a race weekend's two main sessions.
And if the drivers can get that balance in qualifying too, then Ferrari might start to find stronger results will come its way simply through raising the level of its 2025 package.
Photos from Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday
Formula 1
58
Read Also:
Formula 1F1 Austrian GP: Russell leads Verstappen in messy FP1 at Red Bull Ring
Formula 1Brad Pitt reveals why Mercedes and Ferrari pit crews couldn’t stop laughing at APX GP team
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 Austrian GP: George Russell fastest in FP1 as Alex Dunne impresses
Next article Williams issues changes to Carlos Sainz's car alongside communications overhaul
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jake Boxall-Legge
Isack Hadjar to make Red Bull return at F1 Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
1 mo
Isack Hadjar to make Red Bull return at F1 Azerbaijan GP
More from
Ferrari
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Latest news
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 2 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
3 h
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe