Ferrari fans and followers who have been hoping or expecting major, dramatic changes within the Scuderia in the very near future are likely to face disappointment. The Prancing Horse, despite the challenges it has faced this season, will continue through the remainder of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign with essentially the same operational setup that has been in place since the beginning of the year. However, the recent string of underwhelming performances and race results has revealed a number of critical cracks in both the organizational structure and the internal processes within the Maranello team. These weaknesses are significant because they indicate that while Ferrari’s overall foundation is solid, the coordination between the factory engineers in Maranello and the trackside personnel has not been optimal. In response, Ferrari is expected to implement targeted reinforcements and adjustments aimed at improving these communication flows and operational efficiencies to ensure a smoother link between home operations and the demands of track performance.
One year ago, Ferrari was riding a wave of high performance and momentum. At the 2024 United States Grand Prix in Austin, the team delivered a spectacular one-two finish, with Charles Leclerc taking the top step of the podium, followed closely by his teammate Carlos Sainz in second place. This result had been particularly encouraging for Ferrari, as it kept alive the hope that the Scuderia could contend for the Constructors’ Championship against McLaren all the way to the final race in Abu Dhabi. At that point, Ferrari finished only 14 points behind the McLaren team in the Constructors’ standings, which underscored the competitive nature of the championship and the potential of the SF-24 car to challenge for top honors.
Fast forward twelve months, and unfortunately the competitive landscape for Ferrari has dramatically shifted. The situation today is very different from what it was in the previous season. In just one year, the world of the Prancing Horse has been turned on its head. The gap between McLaren in Woking and Ferrari has expanded to an astonishing 352 points, a figure that clearly highlights how much ground the Italian team has lost relative to its key rivals. Compounding the issue, Ferrari is no longer in second place in the Constructors’ Championship, a position it traditionally aims to defend fiercely. Instead, the Scuderia now finds itself trailing behind Mercedes, who are experiencing a significant resurgence after a period of relative struggle, showcasing strong performance and consistency that has allowed them to overtake Ferrari in the standings.
The fallout from the disastrous Singapore Grand Prix exposed a number of vulnerabilities and deep divisions within the Ferrari team, revealing problems that go beyond minor cracks in the organizational structure overseen by Team Principal Fred Vasseur. These challenges are not just technical; they also relate to internal decision-making, communication, and the way resources are allocated between the factory and the trackside team. While no immediate and radical personnel changes are planned before the conclusion of the 2025 season, it is clear that Ferrari is actively studying and developing significant corrective measures. These measures are intended to restore balance and improve the working relationship between the engineers who operate primarily at the Maranello headquarters and those responsible for race operations at circuits around the world, a dynamic that has proven to be far from ideal this season.
There seems to be, in essence, a dual nature within Ferrari—a kind of internal divergence between the priorities and approaches of the factory engineers and those of the trackside team. This divergence has, in recent races, made it difficult to reach a unified strategy when it comes to technical decisions. The lack of alignment has, at times, resulted in extreme and sometimes risky setup choices, which have hindered the ability of the SF-25 car to extract its full potential on track. It is increasingly evident that, until this balance is restored, Ferrari will continue to face challenges in maximizing performance over a full race weekend.
Up until now, the internal power dynamics within the Scuderia have favored the trackside engineers, who have tended to have the final say in setup decisions. However, looking ahead, it will fall to Technical Director Loic Serra to establish a more cooperative and effective relationship between the two groups. For the Singapore Grand Prix, simulations conducted by the team suggested a promising car setup that initially appeared to offer hope of a competitive weekend following the disappointments at Monza and Baku. Unfortunately, a single practice session revealed that while the selected ride height allowed the car to generate the expected aerodynamic load and performance gains, it also caused excessive wear to the plank, which in turn necessitated compromises that risked making the car technically non-compliant with regulations.
From that point onward, the team implemented increasingly extreme technical solutions, which significantly altered the behavior of the Ferrari SF-25 during the race. This forced drivers to adopt long periods of lift-and-coast management, essentially driving in a way that limited performance to protect the car from further wear and failure. Lewis Hamilton, in particular, finished the Singapore Grand Prix with severely compromised braking performance because the cooling system for the brake calipers and discs was not sufficient to meet the demanding requirements of the Marina Bay street circuit, one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar for brakes and tire management.
Within Ferrari, there has been some criticism directed toward Matteo Togninalli, the head of trackside engineers. However, Matteo Togninalli—affectionately known as “Pluto” by his colleagues—is recognized as an extremely competent engineer, despite having a challenging and sometimes difficult personality. Conflicts arising from his technical decisions and strong opinions should not be surprising, and it is expected that he will continue to play a central role at the Ferrari pit wall, bringing his expertise to bear on future races and technical decisions.
Following the negative reaction from financial markets to Ferrari’s Capital Markets Day—where more gradual and long-term growth projections for the Ferrari brand over the next five years were revealed—the team has chosen a strategy of discretion and silence. In a moment where the Italian side is under intense scrutiny and media attention, Ferrari has opted for a defensive approach, avoiding unnecessary statements and maintaining focus on the technical and sporting challenges at hand.
Fans who were anticipating bold interventions or decisive actions from Ferrari President John Elkann will likely be disappointed. At present, a struggling team is not being subjected to mid-season overhauls or drastic personnel changes. Within Ferrari’s racing division, attention is already shifting toward the development of the highly anticipated 678 car, and Fred Vasseur has been entrusted with the task of demonstrating what his staff is capable of achieving under the pressures of changing technical regulations and evolving sporting rules. Theoretically, the competitive order and performance hierarchy will be reset in the coming years, offering teams that work efficiently and intelligently the chance to challenge and potentially overturn previously established benchmarks.
One point is particularly clear: Ferrari’s current difficulties are primarily organizational rather than structural. The core engineering and technological capabilities of the team remain strong, but gaps in coordination, communication, and resource allocation have become apparent. Ferrari is actively seeking highly qualified individuals to strengthen the team and provide targeted reinforcements that will address these weaknesses in the short term. These measures are intended to shore up the operational framework, ensuring that the team is well-positioned to maximize performance as the 2025 season continues.
In conclusion, while Ferrari is not planning a radical revolution in the immediate future, the team is carefully analyzing its internal dynamics and working to implement adjustments that will improve both the efficiency of its operations and the performance of the SF-25 on track. Patience will be required from fans and stakeholders alike, as the Scuderia navigates a challenging period marked by high expectations, competitive pressure, and the ongoing need to balance factory expertise with trackside decision-making. Reinforcements and strategic corrections are on the way, designed to ensure that Ferrari can remain competitive and continue to build toward the long-term success that the team, its drivers, and its fans have come to expect from one of the most iconic teams in Formula 1 history.
And you? What do you think about how competing visions within Ferrari are shaping the SF-25 performance? Let us know with a comment at the end of the article or on our social media channels: Facebook Group / Facebook Page / Instagram / X (former Twitter) and TikTok.
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