Ferrari’s early-season upgrades offer hope, but fundamental issues still limit Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 campaign
Ferrari introduced a technical upgrade package at the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month, and while it brought a modest step forward, the Scuderia remains far from competing for race victories in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Despite signs of progress, the gap to the front-runners is still considerable.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc combined for a total of 22 points in Sakhir, marking Ferrari’s most successful weekend so far this year. They followed it up with 21 more points in Saudi Arabia, where Leclerc finally secured the team’s first podium of the season.
In Jeddah, Leclerc crossed the line just eight seconds behind race winner Oscar Piastri, yet the real concern lies in qualifying pace. The Monegasque driver was nearly four-tenths of a second adrift of Max Verstappen’s pole time, highlighting Ferrari’s persistent one-lap performance deficit.
Further car developments are expected to arrive when the European leg of the season begins at Imola. However, with rival teams also planning updates, Ferrari may not gain any meaningful advantage in relative terms.
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur and his squad came painfully close to claiming the constructors’ championship in 2024. With that near-miss fresh in mind, anything short of a title this year will be viewed as a major disappointment—particularly for Ferrari, the most historically decorated team in the sport.
Ferrari pins hopes on Spanish GP rule change to turn around 2025 Formula 1 season
According to a report by Motorsport Italy, Ferrari are placing significant faith in what they call a potential “day of resurrection”—though not because of their own updates.
Instead, the team is looking to the FIA’s upcoming regulatory change at the Spanish Grand Prix (May 30–June 1), which will tighten the limits on front-wing flexibility. The current belief within the Maranello camp is that both McLaren and Mercedes—currently leading the constructors’ standings—are exploiting grey areas in the rules.
Charles Leclerc, however, is reportedly confident that Ferrari’s design adheres closely to the upcoming regulations and that the team will not suffer any major performance drop.
By the time Formula 1 reaches Barcelona for Round 9, nearly a third of the season will have passed. While it may be too late to enter the championship fight, a significant reshuffle in team performance could revive morale and redefine the second half of the campaign for Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton’s struggles persist as Ferrari’s fixes fall short
Should Ferrari’s interpretation of the front-wing rule prove correct, they could gain critical ground on McLaren and even leapfrog Mercedes in the standings—an outcome that would be pivotal for Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of a competitive season.
However, for Lewis Hamilton to take full advantage of any potential gains, he must first find a better feel for the SF-25. He continues to request setup adjustments that differ markedly from Charles Leclerc’s preferences, despite the fact that his teammate appears to have unlocked a more effective balance in the car.
Ferrari’s upcoming development focus will need to be on qualifying performance. With the dirty air effect proving even more disruptive in 2025, strong grid positions are increasingly essential for race-day success.
Currently, the Briton is facing a scenario that mirrors his most frustrating days at Mercedes—his qualifying performance has regressed significantly, and Ferrari’s fixes haven’t delivered the intended results. One-lap inconsistency was identified as a key weakness over the winter, yet the team’s solutions have failed to resolve the issue, leaving the seven-time Formula 1 world champion in a difficult position as the season progresses.
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