Ferrari has initiated an early evaluation of its significant rear suspension upgrade ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix by conducting a filming day at the Mugello Circuit, with Charles Leclerc designated to test the new package instead of Lewis Hamilton. The team aims to fine-tune the upgrade before its race debut, leveraging this opportunity to analyze performance and potential benefits.
While Lewis Hamilton has struggled to reach the podium during the 2025 season, Charles Leclerc has secured four top-three finishes so far. Despite Hamilton’s efforts to close the gap to his teammate, the rivalry has been challenging, especially since the British Grand Prix where Hamilton temporarily led the Ferrari drivers while Leclerc faced difficulties.
Potential Impact of Hamilton Missing the Early Upgrade Test
Lewis Hamilton’s absence from the Mugello test session removes his chance to gain early experience with the enhanced rear suspension, giving Leclerc and Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi the first insights into the car’s updated setup. This could influence the intra-team competition, as Hamilton will only encounter the new package during the Belgian GP weekend.
After the British GP, Hamilton narrowed his deficit to Leclerc to 16 points in the championship standings. Although this gap appears small considering Hamilton’s long tenure at Mercedes, his ongoing struggles with the Ferrari SF-25’s braking system continue to hamper his performance.
“It’s not the transition, it’s the performance. It’s a lottery, we’ll roll the dice and you put one [pad] on and it works and put another on and it doesn’t. I hope tomorrow we figure something out, we’re working on it for sure.
“I literally changed two of the tiniest things that shouldn’t have had barely any effect at all, the smallest change we’ve probably done this year and we had some brake issues that then made a massive difference so that was then a fight with that. That’s been quite a big issue all year actually.”
With the testing limited to 200 kilometers during filming days, Leclerc and Giovinazzi will share this restricted running distance, which includes special tires and an FIA ECU to comply with regulations. Consequently, the immediate long-term advantage for Leclerc may be limited, as Ferrari prioritizes track implementation of the upgrade.
What This Means for Ferrari’s Championship Prospects
By assigning Leclerc and Giovinazzi to the filming day test, Ferrari hopes to gather valuable data to optimize the rear suspension package ahead of the Belgian GP. However, Hamilton’s lack of track time with the upgrade might affect his ability to adapt quickly, potentially widening the performance gap between the teammates during upcoming races.
As the season progresses, the effectiveness of Ferrari’s upgrades and the drivers‘ adaptation may significantly influence both drivers’ championship battles. Ferrari’s strategic decisions in testing and car development will be closely watched by fans and rivals as the title fight intensifies.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Charles Leclerc a billionaire?
A. By 2025, Charles Leclerc is believed to have a net worth of about $125 million. Most of his wealth comes from his high-paying Ferrari contract, race earnings, and sponsorship deals. His income has increased a lot over time, making him one of the top-earning drivers in the sport.
Q. Does Charles Leclerc have a PhD?
A. Dr. Charles Leclerc earned his doctorate in neuropsychology from Université de Montréal, following a clinical/scientific approach. His thesis explored how the brain reorganizes itself when certain parts receive little or no stimulation. This research led to several scientific articles.
