Ferrari chairman calls crisis talks at Maranello after disastrous 2025 Marina Bay Grand Prix
Ferrari’s turbulent 2025 Formula 1 season continued in Singapore, where the team once again fell short of expectations. The race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit highlighted deep-rooted performance issues within the Scuderia, as the Italian outfit’s struggle to deliver a competitive car has reached a worrying stage for both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton’s late-race troubles, which saw him cutting corners and suffering a brake failure just before the finish, perfectly captured Ferrari’s frustrating campaign. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso’s remarkable recovery – making up over 45 seconds in the closing laps – only served to underline how far behind Ferrari are compared to their rivals.
Earlier in the race, Charles Leclerc was instructed to let Hamilton pass in a tactical attempt to challenge Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Yet the move proved fruitless, as both Ferrari drivers were forced to lift and coast from the early stages of the race to manage excessive brake temperatures. The eventual mechanical failure on Hamilton’s SF-25 turned Ferrari’s weekend into another disappointment, leaving Fred Vasseur’s squad with minimal points and even more scrutiny.
Leclerc’s post-race assessment of Ferrari’s 2025 campaign was reportedly far from optimistic, raising alarm among senior management at Maranello. Hamilton, on the other hand, appeared more defiant on social media, maintaining faith in the project despite results that fail to support his belief in the team’s long-term potential. However, the British driver’s resilience contrasts sharply with Ferrari’s growing internal tension.
John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna hold emergency meeting in Maranello
In the aftermath of the disappointing result, Ferrari chairman John Elkann personally travelled to Maranello to address the situation. According to Motorsport Italia, the visit was not the routine debrief many expected. Instead, Elkann convened a high-level “summit meeting” with Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna and top team executives to evaluate the team’s operational structure and technical direction.
The main agenda reportedly focused on Ferrari’s preparation process before each Grand Prix, specifically identifying weak points in the team’s coordination between factory simulations and on-track performance. Sources within the Italian press revealed that Elkann questioned the team’s approach to upgrades and setup correlation, particularly following the recent aerodynamic and suspension developments that appear to have made the SF-25 less adaptable to fine-tuning.
These ongoing technical limitations have left Ferrari vulnerable to setup miscalculations. Without perfect simulator data, the car becomes nearly impossible to optimise once on track, leading to the inconsistent performances seen in recent races. The lack of tangible results is said to be causing internal divisions within the organisation, with growing pressure on Fred Vasseur and other senior engineers responsible for development strategy.
During the Maranello summit, Elkann was reportedly dissatisfied with explanations given for Ferrari’s brake management strategy in Singapore. The decision to force both drivers into prolonged lift-and-coast phases before Hamilton’s brake failure was deemed “unacceptable” given the team’s resources and experience. According to reports, Ferrari engineers are resorting to “extreme” setup compromises to compensate for the SF-25’s weaknesses in slow-speed corners and tyre management — a strategy that has yet to yield success against Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes.
The discussions also extended to the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, with Elkann stressing that the mistakes of 2025 cannot be repeated. The upcoming car will be critical to Ferrari’s long-term competitiveness, and the early signs of disorganisation have sparked concerns that history may repeat itself unless drastic improvements are made in design and coordination.
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari future uncertain amid continued struggles
While Lewis Hamilton has publicly committed to continuing with Ferrari into the 2026 season, the same cannot be said for his teammate. Charles Leclerc, who has now spent seven seasons with the Scuderia, is reportedly reassessing his long-term commitment after another year without a single victory. His frustration with the team’s inability to deliver a race-winning car is becoming increasingly evident, despite his ongoing loyalty to the Maranello project.
Leclerc has been linked with several other Formula 1 teams, including Mercedes, where team principal Toto Wolff is believed to view him as a potential replacement for George Russell or even a long-term option should Max Verstappen remain out of reach. Furthermore, speculation has surfaced suggesting that a possible driver swap with Oscar Piastri could take place in 2027 if tensions within McLaren rise between Piastri and Lando Norris.
The Monegasque driver remains one of the most talented figures on the grid, and many in the paddock believe he deserves a car capable of fighting for world titles. Having been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since his teenage years, Leclerc still hopes the team can turn things around before he reaches the peak years of his career. However, if Ferrari’s instability continues through 2026, the likelihood of him seeking a new challenge elsewhere will only increase.
Ferrari’s future depends on unity and technical renewal
With pressure mounting from both the boardroom and within the garage, Ferrari’s leadership faces one of the toughest challenges in recent memory. The lack of on-track performance, internal disagreements, and rising uncertainty surrounding both drivers have created a volatile atmosphere in Maranello. While John Elkann continues to express confidence in Fred Vasseur, results will ultimately decide whether the current leadership can guide Ferrari back to championship contention.
The work undertaken in the next few months to develop the 2026 Ferrari Formula 1 car will be decisive for the team’s future. If the lessons from 2025 are not implemented effectively, the Scuderia risks falling even further behind its main competitors, both technically and strategically. For now, Ferrari’s focus is on stabilising internal relations, regaining the trust of its drivers, and ensuring that the mistakes of this season are not carried into the next era of Formula 1.
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