Ferrari’s challenges at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix intensified during Saturday’s qualifying session, highlighting a weekend to forget for the Scuderia. Lewis Hamilton endured yet another early exit, failing to advance beyond Q1, while Charles Leclerc could only manage a 10th-place result, leaving both drivers far from the front of the grid.
For Lewis Hamilton, this marks the third consecutive qualifying session where he has been eliminated in the first segment, a startling contrast to the multiple Q3 appearances he achieved earlier this season. In Qatar, the Briton’s pace was only sufficient to outqualify Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, underscoring the difficulties Mercedes’ former rival faces in adapting to Ferrari’s 2025 F1 car.
Charles Leclerc, who has consistently reached Q3 throughout the 2025 season and missed it only once, managed to progress to the top 10 shoot-out. However, by that stage, he had already exhausted all of his new tyre allocation, leaving him nearly 1.2 seconds off the pole position time set by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The deficit highlighted the limitations of Ferrari’s current setup at the Lusail International Circuit.
The Scuderia’s struggles had already been apparent in the Sprint race, where both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished outside the points for the first time since the 2021 French Grand Prix. The poor performance raised fresh concerns about Ferrari’s competitiveness in the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Charles Leclerc’s Q2 spin exposes Ferrari’s handling challenges
During qualifying, Charles Leclerc suffered a dramatic spin in Q2, a moment that drew visible reactions from F1 pundits. F1TV commentator Alex Jacques noted that every time the broadcast cut to Charles Leclerc’s onboard footage, commentators Jolyon Palmer and David Coulthard visibly winced. Despite the violent spin, the Monegasque was able to continue, aided by the generous run-off areas at the Lusail International Circuit.
David Coulthard suggested that Lewis Hamilton might have felt a sense of vindication watching his teammate struggle. While there is ongoing debate over who bears responsibility for Ferrari’s disappointing 2025 season, it is clear that team principal John Elkann has urged both drivers to concentrate on their work rather than media appearances. The former F1 driver implied that Lewis Hamilton would have viewed Charles Leclerc’s spin as proof of the car’s extreme difficulty to drive.
Ferrari’s setup issues and limited 2025 development under scrutiny
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly reportedly told Lewis Hamilton that the Ferrari looked “so bad” during the Sprint race, emphasizing the gap between the Scuderia and the leading teams. Ferrari attempted to adjust the car’s setup after the Sprint, but the changes failed to produce a significant performance gain. According to reports, the drivers confirmed that the car felt slightly more manageable, yet still lacked the pace required to challenge the frontrunners. Charles Leclerc’s spin could therefore be attributed to pushing the car beyond its optimal limits, a sign of both driver commitment and car instability.
Fred Vasseur, commenting on Ferrari’s development strategy, explained that the team cut back 2025 car development early to focus resources on the 2026 model. This strategic decision, while aimed at long-term competitiveness, has contributed to Ferrari falling to fourth in the current performance hierarchy. The move has fueled criticism, as many F1 analysts question whether the team underestimated the challenges of competing against Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren with the existing 2025 chassis.
Veteran commentator Martin Brundle argued that Ferrari’s struggles go beyond technical development decisions. He highlighted that the issues at Maranello are systemic, contributing to a championship drought that is about to reach its 19th consecutive year. Brundle suggested that Ferrari must address both engineering and operational shortcomings to regain its position as a genuine title contender.
Overall, the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix qualifying session underlined a troubling reality for Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc face an uphill battle to score meaningful points, and the team’s current package remains far from competitive against the leading F1 teams.
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