
The seventy-fifth Formula 1 season for the Italian Scuderia has neither started nor continued as everyone expected. Once again, all the high expectations from fans during the break have been destroyed by the car’s lack of competitiveness. But now, with the beginning of an important stretch of three races, the Ferrari SF-25 and Lewis Hamilton must face a crucial challenge: what direction will the season take?
Let’s be honest. No one, not even the insiders in the paddock, would have expected such a drastic drop in performance from the 2024 car. In six races—excluding Sprint results—the SF-25 has only made it to the podium once: in Jeddah with Charles Leclerc. Last year, at this same stage, things looked entirely different.
By that point, Ferrari already had six podiums, including a win by Carlos Sainz in Australia. So what is happening to one of the most successful teams in Formula 1 history and to the driver they’ve bet on to lead the team’s revival, Lewis Hamilton? According to former driver Jolyon Palmer, the situation is very clear.
“What happened between the two drivers in Miami? In my view, they could have let Lewis overtake Charles a bit earlier. That delay cost him the chance to fully exploit the medium tyres. But even if they had let him through, I doubt he would have caught Kimi Antonelli.” – the British former racing driver, broadcaster and journalist pointed out – “Lewis is really struggling with rear instability,” he continued. “It’s exactly the same issue he had in past seasons with Mercedes. Generally, he likes to take corners at high entry speeds, but to do that he needs a stable rear. The adaptation process is still ongoing.”
“The next races will be crucial. We’re heading into Ferrari’s home Grand Prix, which marks the start of an important triple-header. It’ll be a tough test for the Scuderia because these circuits place a premium on aerodynamic load and efficiency.”
“Despite everything, in my opinion, there’s no doubt that Ferrari still has the right drivers and the right car to win races.” – Jolyon Palmer concluded.
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