Scuderia Ferrari wrapped up the 2024 Formula 1 season with what could be considered the fastest car on the grid, narrowly missing out on the constructors’ championship. Despite their impressive performance, McLaren secured their first constructors’ title since 1998, with Lando Norris claiming victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of both Ferrari drivers. Charles Leclerc delivered a remarkable performance, charging from 19th to finish on the podium. However, his efforts weren’t enough to close the points gap, even after a dramatic moment where Oscar Piastri was spun by Max Verstappen.
Leclerc is now joined by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, and the British driver would have been optimistic about joining the team after their strong finish to the previous season. Hamilton expressed his excitement at the end of testing, although Charles Leclerc’s sentiments weren’t as positive. The Monegasque driver raised concerns about the balance of his Ferrari, highlighting issues that may have been brewing behind the scenes.
The Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne didn’t go as expected for the Italian side, with the team leaving the race with only five points. Charles Leclerc finished in 8th place, while Lewis Hamilton managed to secure a 10th-place finish, earning points but falling short of a stronger result.
It seems the design changes Ferrari implemented over the winter at their Maranello headquarters have caused more issues than anticipated. Journalist Michael Schmidt discussed these challenges in detail on the Auto Motor und Sport YouTube channel after the Australian Grand Prix, pointing out that Ferrari is currently struggling with “massive balance problems” that were not present in the previous season.
After thoroughly evaluating the Maranello team’s performance in last Sunday’s Grand Prix, the German F1 expert commented that it resembled the situation when McLaren suddenly performed exceptionally well in Q3. He noted that in Q1 and Q2, Ferrari appeared to be as competitive as they were in practice, but then they were significantly pushed back during the later stages of the session. Ferrari ended up seven-tenths behind McLaren, and he pointed out that they were facing significant balance issues, which was unusual given that they hadn’t experienced such problems the previous year.
He explained that Ferrari likely had to increase the ground clearance on their car, as a lower setting could have risked disqualification if the plank wore down too much. However, raising the clearance didn’t seem to benefit the car’s performance. He also mentioned that, similar to the previous year, Ferrari struggled in wet conditions, as they had difficulty getting their tyres to the right temperature.
He observed that Charles Leclerc was generally in fifth or sixth place, which meant they likely couldn’t have achieved a better result. As a result, the Maranello team opted for a risky strategy, similar to Red Bull’s, when the rain arrived.
The Australian Grand Prix saw several drivers racing for new teams, with six full-season rookies getting their first taste of the Formula 1 season in challenging, rainy conditions. Among them, Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, Liam Lawson, and Gabriel Bortoleto all crashed out due to the treacherous weather. However, it was the more experienced drivers like Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso who demonstrated just how difficult the conditions were in Melbourne.
Lewis Hamilton, in his debut for Ferrari, had a mixed performance. While his overall drive showed promise, he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his communication over the radio. This breakdown in communication became crucial during the final downpour of the day, as Hamilton did not receive the vital information about a second wave of showers approaching, which ultimately cost him valuable time and positions.
Formula 1 commentator Martin Brundle questioned Ferrari’s approach to Hamilton’s debut, suggesting that their response and preparation fell far short of expectations. The team had hoped for a stronger performance as Hamilton acclimated to the Ferrari car, but issues with communication and strategy hindered their progress.
Ferrari now faces the challenge of identifying the root causes of the balance problems that emerged during the race. With a new car on the horizon for 2026, the team needs to address these concerns promptly. The longer these issues persist, the less motivation Ferrari will have to resolve them, given the upcoming changes in regulations.
While most manufacturers are already focusing their efforts on developing the 2026 car in light of the changing ruleset, Ferrari cannot afford to simply write off the 2025 season. This is especially crucial considering the stage of Hamilton’s illustrious career. The team must find a way to balance short-term performance improvements with long-term strategic planning to ensure they remain competitive.
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