The 625 F1 arose directly from one of the most successful racing cars of the early 1950s. The Ferrari 500, designed by Aurelio Lampredi, had been built specifically for Formula 2 competition and powered Alberto Ascari to back-to-back World Championships in 1952 and 1953 when the FIA ran the championship to F2 regulations following Alfa Romeo's withdrawal from the sport. Ascari won seven consecutive World Championship races in the car, a record that stood until Sebastian Vettel broke it in 2013.
When the World Championship returned to full Formula One regulations for 1954, requiring 2.5-litre naturally aspirated or 750cc supercharged engines, Ferrari adapted the existing 500 chassis rather than building an entirely new car. The result was the 625 F1, which used modified F2 chassis fitted with the new 2.5-litre four-cylinder Lampredi engine.
The 625 F1 was powered by the Lampredi inline-four engine displacing 2498.32 cc, capable of producing between 210 and 230 PS at 7000 rpm using twin Weber 50DCO carburettors. The suspension followed the layout established on the 500, with independent front suspension and a de Dion rear axle. Transverse leaf springs and Houdaille hydraulic shock absorbers were fitted at both ends. The car retained the well-regarded weight distribution of its predecessor, with the engine mounted behind the front axle.
The 625 F1 won two Grand Prix races across its competitive life, one in 1954 and one in 1955. The most celebrated of these victories came in May 1955 when Maurice Trintignant won the Monaco Grand Prix for Ferrari, the Frenchman's first victory at that circuit.
Despite these results, the car consistently struggled to match the pace of the Mercedes-Benz W196, which Juan Manuel Fangio used to win the 1954 and 1955 World Championships. The Maserati 250F was also a strong rival in this period. Ferrari introduced new models during this time but the 625 F1 remained in use alongside the newer machinery. It was not completely replaced until 1956, when Ferrari acquired the D50 chassis from Lancia following that team's withdrawal from Formula One.
The 625 F1 marks the moment when Ferrari's dominant F2-era machinery met its limits in full Formula One competition. Its technical baseline, the Lampredi four-cylinder engine and the 500 chassis, had been sufficient to overwhelm the F2 field but proved inadequate against the purpose-built power of the German and Italian opposition that came with the return to proper F1 regulations. The car nonetheless kept Ferrari competitive during a period of technical transition and secured two Grand Prix victories before the Lancia acquisition provided the platform for future success.