Scuderia Ferrari has been dedicating extensive resources and development effort in its ongoing mission to close the competitive gap to one of its primary rivals in the 2025 Formula 1 season—the McLaren Formula 1 Team. Despite this relentless push for improvement and the continuous implementation of technical upgrades on the SF-25, the iconic Italian team has consistently fallen short of expectations during the last several Grand Prix weekends.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time FIA Formula 1 World Champion who joined Scuderia Ferrari this year after a long and successful tenure with the Mercedes team, has yet to secure a finish within the top three positions in either qualifying or race conditions. His best result to date has been a fourth-place finish, highlighting the challenges he has faced in adapting to Ferrari’s current car. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s long-standing lead driver and one of the grid’s most consistent performers in recent years, achieved his most impressive result of the season thus far with a second-place finish at the prestigious and technically demanding Monaco Grand Prix.
However, Ferrari’s overall results throughout the season have been largely inconsistent. This has occurred despite a steady stream of updates introduced to the SF-25 chassis, which have included aerodynamic revisions and mechanical refinements. Among the technical issues that the team has battled in recent months is excessive plank wear—a problem that affects the car’s ride height and underbody performance, often reducing aerodynamic efficiency and balance. The Maranello-based outfit is planning to address this and other mechanical shortcomings with a substantial rear suspension upgrade, currently scheduled to debut at the Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Lewis Hamilton recently noted that the SF-25 was “very hard” to handle during the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, a weekend where he struggled to extract consistent performance from the car, particularly in slower-speed corners. Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, faced difficulties generating tyre temperature amid the wet and unpredictable conditions, which compromised his ability to find grip and confidence early in the race. These individual challenges highlighted broader mechanical issues with Ferrari’s current car concept—problems that have persisted despite continuous data gathering and simulation work.
In addition to these performance-related concerns, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have privately voiced frustration over a mysterious and previously unexplained issue that has been affecting the behaviour of the SF-25 in certain race conditions. However, according to recent reports emerging from respected Italian media outlets close to the Ferrari team, the Scuderia may have finally diagnosed and resolved this long-standing problem that has impacted both drivers’ ability to perform consistently at the highest level.
Ferrari report reveals resolution to hidden power steering fault in SF-25
Although Lewis Hamilton has been notably reserved and tight-lipped when asked by journalists about the nature of Ferrari’s car-related problems—particularly during difficult post-race debriefs—it was evident that something fundamental was compromising the car’s handling and driver confidence. Even though Ferrari’s recent results have not been catastrophic, it remains abundantly clear that the Maranello-based team has failed to meet the performance targets it set for the early part of the 2025 Formula 1 season, particularly after promising signs of competitiveness during pre-season testing.
According to the Italian media report, the root cause of the issue appears to be linked to Ferrari’s power steering system. The fault specifically manifested during high-speed cornering phases, where the car experiences heavy lateral G-forces. During such phases of the lap, the drivers were not receiving adequate or consistent feedback through the steering wheel—feedback that is essential for fine-tuned corrections and maintaining control at the edge of grip. The irregularity in steering feedback became most noticeable when the drivers were pushing the car to its mechanical and aerodynamic limits. Under those circumstances, strain on the system revealed shortcomings in how the SF-25’s steering behaved under load, and both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc reportedly experienced this across multiple circuits.
Ferrari’s steering problem mirrors earlier McLaren issue solved for Lando Norris
The issue currently faced by the Ferrari duo bears resemblance to a similar technical problem that McLaren had to rectify earlier in the 2025 Formula 1 season for their British driver, Lando Norris. Norris had been vocal about a lack of front-end feel and confidence during the first phase of the season, which led to several frustrating qualifying performances and inconsistent race pace.
In response, McLaren introduced a targeted upgrade package at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, focusing primarily on the front suspension architecture. This update was specifically designed to enhance steering feedback and increase the driver’s connection with the car’s front axle, particularly under braking and initial turn-in phases. Since the installation of the new suspension components, Lando Norris has seen a marked improvement in both pace and confidence behind the wheel. He has significantly closed the performance gap to his teammate Oscar Piastri—who currently leads the Drivers’ World Championship standings—and has substantially reduced his rate of on-track errors.
With Lando Norris now regularly challenging for podiums and executing more consistent race weekends, the effectiveness of McLaren’s fix is clear. The team has found greater balance, and Norris is now firmly in contention at the halfway point of the championship season.
For Ferrari, solving the steering feedback issue and implementing the forthcoming rear suspension upgrade could be crucial steps in reversing the team’s recent form. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are expected to benefit from a more predictable and communicative chassis. If these changes succeed in restoring driver confidence and improving tyre management—two critical areas of concern—Scuderia Ferrari may finally return to consistent podium contention as the 2025 season enters its decisive second half.
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