Charles Leclerc Admits Ferrari Is Losing Confidence as Lewis Hamilton Nears Unwanted F1 Record
Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 campaign continues to spiral downward as the team arrives at the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix, burdened by poor form and internal uncertainty. Despite beginning the season with aspirations of battling McLaren for the constructors’ title, Ferrari now finds itself fighting just to reclaim second place in the standings.
McLaren, who only narrowly edged out Ferrari by 14 points in 2024, have now built a commanding 191-point lead over the Scuderia. Meanwhile, Mercedes leapfrogged Ferrari in Canada, where George Russell delivered the Silver Arrows their first win of the season. Ferrari’s performance in Montreal offered little optimism, with Charles Leclerc managing a fifth-place finish ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton in sixth. The Brit started P5 but again failed to translate his grid position into a podium finish, while Leclerc started from P8 and moved up.
Lewis Hamilton’s struggles this season have reached unprecedented levels. For the first time in his 19-year F1 career, he has gone through the opening 10 rounds of a campaign without scoring a podium. If he fails to reach the top three again in Austria, he will set a new personal low — 13 consecutive races without a podium finish, surpassing his previous record.
Leclerc Surprised by Ferrari’s Waning Belief in 2025 Title Hopes
The disappointment within the team is not limited to Hamilton’s performance. Ferrari’s entire camp has seen morale decline rapidly, with even Charles Leclerc taken aback by the overall mindset shift inside Maranello. According to Swiss outlet Blick, the Monegasque admitted that many within the team have already written off their chances of contending for either the drivers’ or constructors’ championships this season.
Charles Leclerc’s own performances have outshined Lewis Hamilton’s in 2025, having secured Ferrari’s only podium finishes with second in Monaco and thirds in Saudi Arabia and Spain. Nevertheless, he still trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 94 points heading into Austria. With just 104 points to his name, Leclerc currently sits fifth in the standings, with Hamilton one spot behind in sixth with 79 points.
Fred Vasseur Facing Scrutiny as Ferrari Falters in All Departments
Ferrari’s slump has also placed significant pressure on team principal Fred Vasseur. Italian media reports suggest that the Frenchman may be on a short leash, with the Austrian Grand Prix rumored to be part of a three-race evaluation window that could determine his future. Team executives in Maranello are demanding explanations as to why their 2025 project has failed to deliver, despite early optimism and considerable investment.
Even Fred Vasseur has acknowledged the Maranello team’s dramatic underperformance. He admitted publicly, via comments cited by Blick, that Ferrari are currently “a long way” from where they intended to be. Entering the season with championship ambitions, the reality is now far from those goals.
The constructors’ standings make the situation even more evident. McLaren lead the table with 374 points, comfortably ahead of Mercedes on 199 and Ferrari on 183. Not only are the Scuderia winless, but they are also the only one of the current top four teams yet to score a pole position or a Grand Prix victory in 2025.
Ferrari Remains the Only Top Team Without a Win or Pole in 2025
McLaren has dominated qualifying, securing six poles through Oscar Piastri (4) and Lando Norris (2). Red Bull have three poles via Max Verstappen, and Mercedes added one through Russell’s Canadian GP pole. In terms of victories, Piastri leads the field with five wins, followed by Norris with two. Verstappen and Russell have also contributed two and one wins, respectively. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s once-promising SF-25 has failed to deliver the pace or consistency needed to fight at the front.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton now face a crucial point in the season. With their championship hopes fading and internal belief waning, their focus may soon shift to salvaging what remains of Ferrari’s campaign — and avoiding further embarrassment in a year that began with such promise.
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