McLaren’s Thor Upgrade and Ferrari’s Leaked Test Data Shake Up 2025 F1 Season
The 2025 Formula 1 season is heating up as McLaren and Ferrari unveil ambitious upgrades poised to redefine the championship battle, with leaked data from a private Ferrari test adding fuel to the fire. McLaren, currently dominating with a 238-point lead in the constructors’ standings and a tight eight-point gap between drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, is set to introduce a new “Thor” upgrade to solidify its supremacy. Meanwhile, Ferrari, recovering from a shaky start, has leveraged a recent Mugello test featuring Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to refine a game-changing rear suspension, promising a potential 0.1-second lap time boost. As the Belgian Grand Prix looms, these developments are sparking intense speculation among F1 enthusiasts worldwide.
McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella revealed the team tested a new floor development during FP1 at Silverstone, with plans to roll it out at upcoming races, likely skipping the sprint-format Belgian Grand Prix due to its single practice session constraint. Stella expressed satisfaction with the early results, noting on crash.net that the test floor provided valuable insights, signaling McLaren’s intent to maintain its edge over rivals. This move underscores the team’s strategy to counter the relentless pace of Piastri and Norris, who lead Max Verstappen by a significant margin, ensuring McLaren remains the benchmark in a season marked by fierce competition.
Ferrari, however, is mounting a comeback with its own innovation. Struggling earlier with the SF-25’s sensitivity to ride height changes, the team introduced a floor upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix, and now a new rear suspension design aims to address this flaw. The Mugello test, conducted under F1’s 200 km filming day allowance, yielded telemetry data suggesting the suspension synergizes with the Austrian floor upgrade, allowing the car to run lower for enhanced downforce. This adjustment could unlock critical performance gains, a development Hamilton and Leclerc are eager to exploit. Reports indicate Ferrari might debut this upgrade at Spa-Francorchamps, despite the sprint weekend’s challenges, thanks to the pre-test data advantage.
The leaked data, highlighting a 0.1-second improvement, has raised eyebrows, especially given Ferrari’s recent struggles—Leclerc’s P14 at Silverstone and Hamilton’s ongoing adaptation woes. This upgrade could narrow the gap with McLaren, whose consistent development has kept them ahead. For Hamilton, who joined Ferrari seeking an eighth title, this could be a turning point, while Leclerc’s input during the test underscores his role in refining the car’s setup. The lower ride height fix also addresses Hamilton’s disqualification in China due to excessive plank wear, a persistent issue Ferrari is determined to overcome.
As the Belgian Grand Prix approaches on July 25-27, 2025, the paddock buzzes with anticipation. Will McLaren’s Thor upgrade extend its dominance, or can Ferrari’s rear suspension leapfrog them into contention? With only one practice session to fine-tune, Ferrari’s decision to introduce the upgrade will be a high-stakes gamble. F1 fans are glued to every update, eager to see if these technological advancements will reshape the season’s narrative. Stay tuned as the battle for supremacy intensifies on the iconic Spa circuit.
