Ferrari uncover major qualifying flaw leaving Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 F1 title hopes under threat
The 2025 Formula 1 season was intended to offer Lewis Hamilton the clean slate he sought following a challenging final campaign with Mercedes. After a rare setback in his illustrious career, where he was outscored by teammate George Russell by 22 points, Hamilton was banking on a revival with Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion, now 40, had reasons for optimism as Ferrari closed out 2024 on a strong note. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had nearly overhauled McLaren for second in the Constructors’ standings, and every mid-season development brought tangible performance gains for the Scuderia.
However, the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season has not lived up to expectations, despite Lewis Hamilton’s initially upbeat assessment during winter testing. While Lewis Hamilton spoke positively about Ferrari’s potential, the Monegasque had been more cautious, and his skepticism seems to have been justified even though his performance improved significantly after the introduction of Ferrari’s first upgrade package in Bahrain.
Ferrari’s qualifying struggles traced to ground clearance flaw affecting Lewis Hamilton
An in-depth report from Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has shed light on the technical issue currently hampering Ferrari — an issue team principal Fred Vasseur must urgently resolve if the team is to salvage its season. Over the winter, Ferrari targeted qualifying performance, aiming to build on the meager four pole positions achieved across 24 races in 2024. Yet so far, 2025 has delivered few highlights in qualifying trim.
Aside from Hamilton’s stunning Sprint Race pole in China, Ferrari drivers have struggled to feature at the sharp end of the grid. The sole front-row start came courtesy of the Monegasque in Bahrain, where he lined up beside Oscar Piastri but ultimately failed to convert the position into a podium.
According to the Italian media, the underlying issue lies in the SF-25’s extreme sensitivity to ground clearance when running with an empty fuel load. The car reportedly enters a “crisis” state when it transitions into slower corners that demand higher levels of mechanical grip compared to aerodynamic downforce. While Ferrari’s newly introduced floor has somewhat mitigated the problem, it has not eradicated it.
The team now faces a critical decision: how much effort should they devote to rectifying a 2025-specific issue, knowing that the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 regulations will render much of this year’s development work obsolete?
Lewis Hamilton’s season compromised by Ferrari’s setup miscalculation
For Lewis Hamilton, the ground clearance dilemma is a familiar — and frustrating — theme. During the 2023 season, he was disqualified from the United States Grand Prix for excessive plank wear, and Mercedes’ overcorrection in Brazil, where they raised his ride height too much, left him uncompetitive.
Fast-forward to 2025, and history seems to be repeating itself. Although Lewis Hamilton claimed a brilliant Sprint Race victory in Shanghai, he was unable to replicate that success in the Grand Prix itself, while Charles Leclerc also suffered, being disqualified due to his car being underweight.
Significantly, Ferrari had not faced such ground clearance concerns in 2024, a detail that likely gave the Briton confidence when committing to his move. Unfortunately, he now finds himself hamstrung by a car that struggles when it should be at its best — running low to the ground, where the seven-time Formula 1 world champion traditionally excels.
Since Shanghai, Lewis Hamilton’s competitiveness has been fleeting. The gap between him and Charles Leclerc in qualifying sessions has been alarming, emphasizing the urgency for Ferrari to correct their design flaws. If they fail to give the Briton a platform to challenge, the veteran risks falling dangerously adrift in the Drivers’ Championship standings during what was supposed to be his great comeback season.
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