Charles Leclerc now disagrees with Ferrari about new update Lewis Hamilton desperately needs after private test

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Ferrari took advantage of the pause in action ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix to test a new update at Mugello, but Charles Leclerc does not agree with the Scuderia’s verdict.

While the summer break is now just around the corner, the 2025 F1 season hit pause after a disappointing British Grand Prix for Ferrari with a three-week gap before the Belgian GP. The Scuderia saw Lewis Hamilton finish 39.812 seconds from winner Lando Norris at Silverstone.

While Hamilton was at least able to equal his best finish to date for Ferrari with P4 in the 40-year-old’s home race, Leclerc paid the price for strategic errors as the 27-year-old finished the British GP in P14 and 84.477s off the lead. It was the Monegasque’s worst finish in 2025.

So, Ferrari took advantage of the break to stage two filming days at Mugello this Wednesday and Thursday. The pride of Italy used the first day at the circuit they own to hold a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) run in the SF-23, before Hamilton and Leclerc both took the SF-25 out.

Charles Leclerc does not share Ferrari’s ‘cautious optimism’ for their rear suspension upgrade

Filming days let F1 teams enjoy 200km with a current-year car. So, Hamilton and Leclerc got 100km each at Mugello in the SF-25 to sample the rear suspension upgrade that Ferrari will take to the Belgian GP. Mugello presented a better test circuit than Fiorano due to its layout.

READ MORE: The most successful F1 teams and engine manufacturers at the Belgian GP

And, according to reports by Formula1.it after the test, Ferrari’s mechanics even left Mugello with ‘cautious optimism’ that the rear suspension update was a success. Team principal Fred Vasseur and technical director Loic Serra were also both present to monitor its performance.

Serra oversaw the design of the upgrade as Ferrari changed the mounting point for the front wishbone of their rear suspension to the gearbox in a bid to make the rear-end of the SF-25 more stable. Ferrari also hope the update allows them to run the SF-25 lower to the ground.

Optimism has now spread throughout the Ferrari garage, as the early signs at the test were ‘positive’. But Motorsport.it reports that Leclerc did not find a ‘big difference’ from Ferrari’s upgrade, which is not as ‘extreme’ as the rear suspension that Mercedes recently debuted.

Lewis Hamilton needs Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade at the Belgian GP to deliver

Ferrari are now carefully evaluating all of the data they collected at Mugello to prepare their rear suspension set-up for the Belgian GP on July 25-27. Hamilton and Leclerc will only have one practice session to dial the SF-25 in with Spa-Francorchamps also staging an F1 Sprint.

READ MORE: The most successful F1 drivers at the Belgian GP of all time and at Spa

Hamilton, in particular, will hope Ferrari’s optimism proves well-placed and that the upgrade allows the Scuderia to run the SF-25 closer to the ground to unleash its full potential. Ferrari have not been able to maximise its potential after having to increase their car’s ride height.

It was also owing to running the SF-25 too low that Hamilton was disqualified from the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix due to excessive wear to his rear skid block. Since April’s event, in which Leclerc was also disqualified, Serra and Ferrari’s mechanics have been working on a solution.

But Hamilton has particularly struggled with the nervousness of the rear-end of Ferrari’s car when they have needed to increase its ride height, with the 40-year-old unable to develop a feel for the SF-25. Ferrari question if Hamilton will adapt to their car given his woes, as well.