Ferrari in turmoil: Tension, excuses and behind-the-scenes chaos as Charles Leclerc looks beyond Maranello. Ferrari faces growing internal tensions and poor on-track performance.

MODENA – A chilling atmosphere has fallen over the Ferrari faithful, as if a long and slow eclipse has cast its shadow over Maranello, leaving the team and its supporters in a state of gloom and uncertainty. Eventually, the light will return—but the real question is when, and even more importantly, how?

There was a time when things seemed simpler, when one could almost nostalgically say, “we were better off when things were worse.” Back then, someone used to repeat: “We have to understand.” Because the process was at least clear—identify the problem, understand it, and correct it. Today, however, Ferrari’s troubles no longer appear one by one; they come down like a hailstorm, overwhelming the team on multiple fronts.

The trend compared to last season has completely reversed. Instead of being a strength, the development of the car has turned into the weak spot that Ferrari keeps stumbling upon. The expected results from the highly specialized work of Loïc Serra have yet to materialize, leaving fans and insiders questioning where all the effort has gone.

Ferrari’s performance takes a steep dive

As the season progressed, things went from bad to worse. It started with the FIA’s new rule limiting front wing flex—skillfully sidestepped by Mercedes, as was evident in Singapore—and continued with the redesigned rear suspension of the SF-25, a project that had been in the works for months. Instead of improving, Ferrari’s performance curve began to nosedive. The timing was eerily symbolic: the downward spiral began right after Fred Vasseur’s contract was extended by three more years, on July 31. Since then, five Grands Prix have been contested, and the statistics tell the story clearly.

In those five races, Ferrari has collected only 50 points—an average of 10 per Grand Prix—while McLaren has scored 134, Mercedes 105, and even Red Bull 98. The numbers reveal a dramatic decline, with Ferrari’s pace barely better than that of Williams, Aston Martin or even the Racing Bulls.

Ferrari’s latest headache

The most recent problem came in the form of overheating brakes, forcing the engineers to repeatedly tell the drivers to slow down in order to cool them. This is just the latest symptom of a car suffering from a lack of aerodynamic load. To achieve speed, the SF-25 has to run very low to the ground—but not too low, or it risks breaching regulations and being disqualified, as happened in China.

Even more worrying is the overall perception that nothing seems to work properly anymore within the team. Charles Leclerc points his finger at the car, while Lewis Hamilton criticizes the organization itself—its divided departments, inefficient procedures, and work protocols. Meanwhile, the engineers are working tirelessly, and Fred Vasseur seems to be trapped in a cycle of apologies that has lasted for months.

Once again, his post-race comments followed the familiar pattern of highlighting the team’s “good race pace,” “unexpressed potential,” or “execution mistakes.” After the latest race, he said that “Lewis was fantastic, but he pushed so hard that the brakes overheated.” The recurring theme, it seems, is that Ferrari’s flaw lies in its “excess of perfection,” a phrase that had already emerged following the double disqualification in Shanghai.

Tense atmosphere and internal friction

This climate of frustration and excuses has worsened the internal atmosphere at Maranello, with new tensions surfacing inside the team. According to reports, after qualifying on Saturday, a heated argument broke out between Fred Vasseur and a senior engineer. Sources from within the Scuderia suggest that the other party involved was Matteo Togninalli, the highly respected head of track engineering.

Even among the technical staff, frustration is spreading. Some engineers are reportedly unhappy with Leclerc’s increasingly harsh criticism of the car and its management. The Monegasque driver did not hold back on Sunday night when he admitted: “Mercedes has made great progress, just like Red Bull did a few races ago, but we haven’t. It’s hard to be optimistic in these conditions and to think that things might change in the remaining races.”

Ferrari’s next technical cycle

Now, those close to Leclerc suggest that he is approaching the future with a colder and more strategic mindset. The next technical cycle, which will define the future of the team under the 2026 regulations, cannot be wasted. For this reason, discussions are reportedly taking place with other teams with a view to 2027. The driver, after all, cannot afford to compromise his entire career solely out of loyalty to the Scuderia.

The decisive career choices for many drivers will likely be made in 2026, once the new technical projects prove their value—or lack thereof. This logic applies not only to Leclerc but to most of the grid. Before committing to any long-term future, they all want to see which teams will truly master the new era of Formula 1.

In the midst of all these uncertainties, the most influential forces in the driver market appear to be Mercedes—rumored to be far ahead in the development of its new power unit—and its customer team, McLaren. Both are seen as key players capable of reshaping the competitive landscape of the sport in the coming years.

And that’s what makes the current situation in Maranello even more concerning. At a time of deep technical confusion and internal strain, the same group of people—working in this tense environment, under the same team principal—is responsible for designing the car that will determine Ferrari’s fate for the next five years. For the fans and for those who still dream of a return to glory, that thought is perhaps the most unsettling of all.