Ferrari stays the same. That is the most important message from the Formula 1 weekend which was held at the 4.909-kilometre Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix wrote one of the most bitter chapters in the recent history of the Italian side. In qualifying, both cars were eliminated in Q2, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton ending up in eleventh and twelfth position. A result that marks a new, sad negative record for Maranello on the circuit named after Enzo and Dino Ferrari.
Fans are losing patience
The Prancing Horse, which for years has seemed specialized in rewriting its own records in a negative direction, left its fans stunned. The grandstands, usually a sea of red flags, fell silent on Saturday. An image that says it all. On social media, criticism from fans reached rarely seen levels. It is clear that the bond between the Maranello team, Formula 1, and its public, especially in Italy, is fraying.
In Maranello, however, they seem to live in a parallel reality. Apparently unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation. The team’s optimistic narrative, led by the comments of Frederic Vasseur, may have its reasons to exist. But the reality clashes with the facts, fueling heated criticism. Sunday went slightly better, but mediocrity is the best Ferrari can currently aim for.
The reality is that the Italian side is firmly the third force in the 2025 Formula 1 championship, at least for now. Unless something drastic changes at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, the SF-25 single-seater appears stuck in its development while everyone else keeps moving forward. There are many mysteries this season and, as often happens at Maranello, answers are lacking. Talk continues of “miraculous upgrades” or “untapped potential,” but real questions remain unanswered.
Was it wise to revolutionize the car in the final year of this technical cycle? Is it right to pin all the blame on former Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile? And if the Italian aerodynamicist has moved to Aston Martin, is it possible no one was checking his work? Furthermore: once the problem was identified, why is Ferrari taking an eternity to respond? And why, while other teams are introducing constant aerodynamic updates, is Ferrari stuck with the same car from the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season?
The uncertain future of the SF-25
Returning to Ferrari’s future, the gap between expectations and results is becoming more and more evident. The most crucial aspect is to understand the roots of this long drought, its deeper causes, and possible solutions, including the internal dynamics of the Sporting Management. There is also the question of what Ferrari will be able to offer on the streets of Monaco in Monte Carlo, Charles Leclerc’s home race. But regardless of what happens next weekend, the defining point of the championship appears to be the Spanish Grand Prix weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. At Montmeló, the Italian team will bring the first aerodynamic updates for the struggling SF-25 single-seater, and all teams will need to introduce new front wings to comply with the FIA’s new restrictive regulations aimed at preventing flexible wings. All we can do now is wait.
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