Ferrari face mounting pressure as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc struggle through difficult 2025 season
Ferrari are under intense scrutiny as the 2025 Formula 1 campaign continues to expose the weaknesses of the SF-25. Despite sitting in second place in the constructors’ standings, the Italian team has failed to secure a single Grand Prix victory this year. With Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile arrival from Mercedes and Charles Leclerc’s proven speed, expectations were far higher than the reality currently facing the Scuderia.
The upcoming Formula 1 regulation changes in 2026 are already being seen as a lifeline for Ferrari, who must work tirelessly over the coming months to close the gap to rivals such as McLaren and Red Bull. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur has emphasized the need for rapid progress, especially as Hamilton still dreams of capturing an eighth world championship crown in Ferrari red. Instead, he now holds the unwanted record for the most starts at Ferrari without a single podium finish.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix reveals Ferrari’s rear-end struggles
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku initially offered glimmers of hope. Hamilton topped the second free practice session, showing strong pace over both short and long runs. However, qualifying proved disastrous. The British driver failed to reach Q3, leaving him 12th on the grid and forced into recovery mode. Charles Leclerc managed to qualify ahead, but even his efforts could not bring Ferrari into contention for victory.
Hamilton ultimately crossed the line in eighth place, with Charles Leclerc finishing just behind. The final laps highlighted Ferrari’s internal struggles when Leclerc was instructed to let Hamilton through, only for Hamilton to narrowly stay ahead by half a second at the chequered flag. The incident emphasized how little progress the Scuderia have been able to make under race conditions.
Team radio frustrations expose deeper Ferrari problems
Throughout the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton’s frustrations with the SF-25’s balance were laid bare over team radio. Race engineer Riccardo Adami repeatedly issued instructions, urging Lewis Hamilton to manage corner entries and exits carefully to preserve tyre life. Ferrari’s engineers remain cautious with aggressive driving ever since the team’s disqualification in China earlier in the season for ride-height infringements.
Despite Adami’s advice, the British driver complained of having “no rear end” and described the car as extremely difficult to control, particularly in the closing stages. His inability to extract consistent grip underlined Ferrari’s ongoing aerodynamic inefficiencies, which have plagued their performances throughout 2025. After the race, Hamilton questioned his own pace, but the evidence suggests the car’s limitations are the true culprit.
Leclerc’s Azerbaijan woes highlight Ferrari’s decline
For Charles Leclerc, Azerbaijan has historically been a stronghold, with four consecutive pole positions in previous years. Yet in 2025, the Monegasque driver barely finished in the points, underlining the team’s alarming decline. The fact that Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda managed to hold position against both Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris in the final stint further highlighted Ferrari’s lack of competitiveness in the midfield battle.
Heading into the race weekend, Leclerc had a 45-point cushion over Hamilton in the drivers’ standings. That advantage has since been slightly reduced, largely due to the team’s controversial position swap during the race. Despite this, Leclerc praised Hamilton’s ability to adapt quickly to the tight Baku street circuit, pointing out that the seven-time world champion was still battling significant handling issues.
Hamilton’s Ferrari dream proving harder than expected
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was widely seen as one of the most significant transfers in Formula 1 history. After over a decade with Mercedes, where he secured seven world championships and became the most successful driver of his generation, the British driver hoped to add another historic chapter by bringing Ferrari back to the top. Instead, the first season has been one of disappointment, with reliability problems, poor qualifying sessions, and race-day struggles preventing the Scuderia from returning to winning ways.
Compared to Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation period has been especially difficult. The SF-25’s unpredictable rear grip and narrow setup window have left him unable to mount a serious challenge for podiums. Still, both drivers’ frustrations reflect a broader issue: Ferrari’s inability to consistently deliver a car capable of competing with the dominant McLaren and Red Bull packages. For the tifosi, patience is running thin as another winless campaign unfolds.
Ferrari’s focus shifts toward long-term recovery
Looking ahead, Ferrari must not only maximize their opportunities in the remaining races but also prepare for the sweeping regulation changes that will redefine the sport in 2026. With Hamilton’s wealth of experience from Mercedes and Leclerc’s raw pace, the Scuderia has the driver pairing to fight at the front, but they urgently need to deliver a more stable and competitive car. Otherwise, the dream of seeing Ferrari back on the top step of the podium will remain out of reach for yet another season.
As the team heads into the Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari face a defining moment. If the SF-25 continues to lack rear-end stability and struggles to match rivals on race pace, it will only reinforce the reality that their long-awaited return to Formula 1 glory is still far away. For both Hamilton and Leclerc, the goal remains clear: push through the difficulties of 2025 and hope that the foundation is being laid for a far more competitive era.
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