The latest edition of Il Corriere dello Sport paints a stark picture of the atmosphere within Scuderia Ferrari, revealing heightened tensions and growing frustrations among both drivers and technical staff.
High tension in Singapore
From the initial certainty that Ferrari could challenge for the second spot in the Constructors’ Championship on a “friendly” track—or at least one traditionally difficult for Mercedes—the Scuderia ended the Singapore Grand Prix once again facing the harsh realities of losses. This 2025 season increasingly feels like the Battle of Caporetto for Ferrari, with setbacks piling up in battle after battle.
Charles Leclerc finished the race in sixth position, while Lewis Hamilton ended in eighth after receiving a five-second penalty for track limits violations. These violations were forced by brake system issues that Hamilton had to manage during the final stages of a race he admitted was run at “95% managed pace.” Team principal Frederic Vasseur did not hide his natural frustration with the technical and competitive shortcomings the team is facing this season.
Warning signs from qualifying
Even after qualifying, the signs were not promising, and it was striking how contradictory the statements from the drivers and team principal were. Charles Leclerc effectively raised the white flag, stressing that after forced changes following FP1, the SF-25 had become extremely difficult to drive. Lewis Hamilton, in contrast, simply noted that better operations and execution on track were still possible. Fred Vasseur highlighted that the gap to the McLarens was not as significant, although both cars were still beaten on a single lap by Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Internal tensions escalate
The current edition of Il Corriere dello Sport also reports that tensions inside Ferrari’s garage are anything but calm. After qualifying, team principal Frederic Vasseur reportedly had a very tense discussion with Matteo Togninalli, head of track engineering. The Italian sports daily, in an article by Fulvio Solms, further emphasizes that some engineers are not pleased with Charles Leclerc’s blunt criticism of the car and how it is managed.
Charles Leclerc appears increasingly determined to prioritize rational analysis over emotional attachment, especially if the 2026 Ferrari project proves insufficiently competitive to fight for the title. The implication is clear: from 2027, the Monegasque driver may pursue the championship no longer wearing the iconic red overalls of Ferrari.
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