Italian Government Boosts Ferrari F1 with Major Sponsorship to Revamp SF-25 Technology After 2025 Setbacks

In a stunning move that underscores Italy’s commitment to its motorsport legacy, the Italian government has announced a significant sponsorship investment in Scuderia Ferrari, aimed at revolutionizing the team’s SF-25 Formula 1 car and upgrading its Maranello factory. The decision, revealed on May 19, 2025, comes on the heels of Ferrari’s disappointing performance in the 2025 season, particularly at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, where brake issues and a lack of pace left the team trailing McLaren and Red Bull. This bold initiative signals Italy’s determination to restore Ferrari to the pinnacle of F1, leveraging cutting-edge technology to reclaim championship glory.

The sponsorship, described as one of the largest in Ferrari’s recent history, will fund an aggressive development program for the SF-25, focusing on aerodynamics, suspension, and brake systems, which faltered during the 2025 season. Sources close to the deal, reported by Motorsport Week, indicate that the investment could rival the $90-100 million title sponsorship secured from Hewlett Packard (HP) in 2024, with the government collaborating with Italian tech firms to drive innovation. The funds will also support a state-of-the-art overhaul of Ferrari’s Maranello factory, enhancing simulation capabilities, wind tunnel testing, and data analytics to address the team’s technical shortcomings. “This is about national pride and technological leadership,” said an Italian Ministry of Economic Development spokesperson. “Ferrari represents Italy’s engineering excellence, and we’re ensuring it remains a global force in F1.”

Ferrari’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, marked by high expectations with the arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc, but plagued by on-track struggles. At Imola, Hamilton and Leclerc complained of brake issues, with Hamilton lamenting, “These damn brakes, mate,” over team radio, as reported on X by @F1Insider. The SF-25’s rear suspension layout, revised for 2025, caused excessive plank wear, risking disqualifications like Hamilton’s in the Chinese Grand Prix, according to The Race. The team’s pace in FP2 at Imola was lackluster, with Hamilton and Leclerc trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by over a second. A tire pressure violation on Leclerc’s car during FP1, resulting in a €5,000 fine, further exposed operational weaknesses, as noted by FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer.

The government’s intervention aligns with Ferrari’s planned upgrades, detailed by ScuderiaFans.com. A major aerodynamic package, initially set for the Spanish Grand Prix, will address the SF-25’s inability to run low ride heights without bottoming out, a flaw linked to its gearbox and suspension design. The investment will accelerate these upgrades, potentially introducing a revised rear end and enhanced damper capacity to optimize performance in high-speed corners. Team principal Fred Vasseur remains optimistic, stating, “The SF-25 project is not a failure. With this support, we’ll unlock its full potential.” The factory upgrades will also bolster Ferrari’s collaboration with IBM, a 2025 partner, to enhance data-driven insights for race strategy and fan engagement, as reported by BlackBook Motorsport.

This sponsorship reflects Italy’s broader commitment to F1, seen in its €100 million investment in Monza to secure the Italian Grand Prix until 2031, per The Guardian. The government’s push to protect Ferrari’s competitiveness mirrors its efforts to maintain Italy’s two F1 races, though Imola’s contract, expiring in 2025, remains uncertain, as warned by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. The investment also responds to fan frustration on X, with @TifosiForever urging, “Ferrari needs to fix the car now, no excuses!” The Tifosi’s passion, evident in the 335,000 attendees at Monza 2024, underscores the cultural stakes.

Economically, the sponsorship is a strategic move. Ferrari’s 2023 sponsorship revenue reached $243.6 million, per Sportcal, and its 2024 valuation hit $3.9 billion, according to Forbes. The government’s backing could attract further commercial partners, building on deals with HP, Shell, and UniCredit, while offsetting the loss of Santander to Williams in 2025, as noted by GPKingdom. The investment also positions Italy as a hub for motorsport innovation, potentially benefiting Ferrari’s road car division, which plans to unveil its first fully electric vehicle in October 2025, per Ferrari.com.

As Ferrari prepares for the Monaco Grand Prix, the government’s sponsorship injects renewed hope. Hamilton, who salvaged a podium in Saudi Arabia, and Leclerc, who led the drivers’ championship briefly after Imola, are poised to capitalize on these upgrades. The question remains: can this historic investment turn Ferrari’s fortunes around before the 2026 regulations reset? For now, the Prancing Horse is charging toward redemption, backed by the full might of Italy.