Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 season is unfolding far below expectations, with the Maranello team struggling to compete for either championship title. As the Austrian Grand Prix approaches, McLaren are on the verge of extending their lead over the Maranello squad to a staggering 200 points in the constructors’ standings. Despite high hopes with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, both he and Charles Leclerc are still chasing their first Grand Prix victory of the year. For Hamilton, the only highlight remains his Sprint Race win in China—far from the impact many expected from the seven-time world champion’s high-profile switch to Ferrari.
Fred Vasseur, now in his second season as Ferrari team principal, had come agonizingly close to delivering a title in 2024. A single misstep from Lando Norris in Abu Dhabi might have secured it, but since that missed opportunity, Ferrari’s form has deteriorated dramatically. With Fred Vasseur’s contract due to expire at the end of this season, his leadership is coming under increasing scrutiny. Chairman John Elkann has yet to make any public comments on Fred Vasseur’s future, but within the team, frustration is becoming increasingly apparent.
While Lewis Hamilton has publicly taken accountability for his performances, it’s difficult to believe that all is well at the heart of the Scuderia. Tensions behind the scenes appear to be mounting, and concerns about internal dysfunction are beginning to surface more openly.
Luigi Mazzola, a former Ferrari race engineer and key figure during the Michael Schumacher era, offered a revealing assessment of the current situation during a segment on Sky Race Anatomy. He referenced Hamilton’s comments after the Canadian Grand Prix as deeply significant, suggesting they exposed deeper structural issues within Ferrari. According to the former Ferrari team member, Lewis Hamilton was effectively highlighting problems with the team’s organization and overall mindset—issues that shouldn’t exist at a top-tier team like Ferrari.
Luigi Mazzola recalled that even Lewis Hamilton’s father had indicated earlier in the year that Ferrari required a rebuild, and he noted how the seven-time champion has now begun voicing his own doubts about the lack of progress after ten races. The failure to deliver key upgrades or match rivals in development has left Mazzola perplexed, as he stressed that a team of Ferrari’s stature should already possess the internal culture and resources necessary to win. The fact that Lewis Hamilton is pointing to major gaps is, in his view, “very worrying.”
At the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton also dealt with technical problems, including braking issues and damage from hitting a groundhog. While he remained composed in his post-race remarks—stating that the team knew they weren’t where they needed to be and were focused on improvements—there’s a growing sense that Ferrari’s problems are systemic. Ten races into the season, little visible progress has been made.
In addition to Lewis Hamilton’s concerns, teammate Charles Leclerc’s frustration over race strategy further highlighted the team’s internal confusion. Though some praised Ferrari’s immediate handling of the Monegasque’s complaints at the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, the inconsistency suggests that the team lacks a clear and unified tactical direction.
Luigi Mazzola continued his analysis by noting that a chaotic external environment has eroded calm and focus within the Ferrari garage. He believes the discomfort felt by both drivers—and especially their engineers—stems from a broader lack of confidence in the current project. In his view, the team appears resigned to their limitations, believing that even optimal strategy cannot overcome the SF-25’s lack of competitiveness against rivals.
He also criticized Fred Vasseur’s approach to interpreting race performance, suggesting that data from Friday sessions is giving a misleading sense of Ferrari’s race-day potential. Luigi Mazzola concluded that while the French manager might remain composed in public, the current trajectory suggests fundamental issues that are sapping belief within the team—a dangerous situation for any title-contending operation.
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