Ferrari 2025 crisis deepens as SF-25 struggles spark internal tensions and FIA scrutiny
Ferrari is facing a significant crisis in the 2025 Formula 1 season, struggling to extract top performance from the SF-25 and creating unrest across multiple departments. After narrowly missing out on the constructors’ championship in 2024, finishing just 14 points behind McLaren, the Maranello outfit has fallen behind key rivals in 2025.
While competitors such as McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull have introduced upgrades and gained performance advantages, Ferrari opted to implement a new rear suspension system, hoping for a radical improvement. However, the change has failed to deliver the desired results. Charles Leclerc has publicly acknowledged that Ferrari currently ranks only as the fourth-best team, while Lewis Hamilton faces the possibility of finishing a season podium-less for the first time in his illustrious F1 career.
Team tensions and internal pressures mount
The SF-25 remains winless in 2025, and internal tensions are reportedly escalating. Multiple departments are under pressure to find solutions, with Lewis Hamilton reportedly submitting additional reports demanding operational changes. Sources indicate that the combination of poor results and internal frustration has left the team searching for answers.
Ferrari under intense FIA scrutiny
Ferrari’s ongoing challenges with ride height regulations have been widely documented. The team has struggled to operate the SF-25 within legal parameters while maintaining competitive performance. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton faced disqualifications at the Shanghai International Circuit—the Monegasque for being underweight and Hamilton for excessive plank wear. Attempts to resolve ride height issues have so far been unsuccessful, further hampering performance during race weekends.
According to a report from the Italian media, tension between Ferrari and the FIA has grown, with F1’s governing body reportedly conducting extremely frequent inspections of the SF-25 during race weekends. These repeated checks have forced Ferrari to adopt ultra-conservative approaches across all areas to avoid regulatory breaches, creating additional complications for trackside engineering and limiting performance potential.
Technical and staffing challenges
One of Ferrari’s main weaknesses this season has been extracting optimal car performance during race weekends. The team has also experienced a drain of experienced technical staff in recent years, with reports warning that further departures could occur as the crisis deepens. Analysts suggest that these staffing issues, combined with operational conservatism, have contributed to the team’s ongoing struggles.
Fred Vasseur’s leadership under scrutiny
Team principal Fred Vasseur is reportedly feeling mounting pressure amid Ferrari’s disappointing 2025 campaign. His decisions regarding car upgrades, particularly prioritizing the new rear suspension over aerodynamic improvements requested by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, have been criticized internally. Staff sources indicate that Fred Vasseur’s insistence on the rear suspension, which failed to resolve performance issues, has not been well received within the team.
Additionally, the French manager is said to be reluctant to demand major operational changes for fear of upsetting Ferrari chairman John Elkann, who has reportedly questioned his leadership in the past. Despite signing a new two-year contract earlier in 2025, Fred Vasseur’s position may not be secure if results fail to improve. Rumors suggest that Ferrari could explore bringing in Christian Horner, the recently departed Red Bull team principal, which could potentially replace Fred Vasseur if the team believes a leadership change is necessary to restore competitiveness.
In summary, Ferrari’s 2025 season highlights a combination of technical setbacks, regulatory pressures, and internal discord. With the SF-25 underperforming, increasing scrutiny from the FIA, and leadership questions surrounding Fred Vasseur, the Scuderia faces a critical period to address structural, operational, and strategic challenges before the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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