Ferrari attempts to climb back up the ranks in Formula 1. The early-season triumphalism was based on superficial certainties and the Maranello technicians and engineers have rolled up their sleeves. We are talking about the trackside team, working to identify the complex compromise that can extract the maximum performance despite the SF-25’s inherent issues. It is a task that, at least in Charles Leclerc’s case, has yielded results, with two podium finishes in the last two races.
Several factors undoubtedly contributed to those podium finishes. The Monaco street circuit is a track with unique characteristics, where the Monegasque driver thrives like nowhere else through the tight streets of the Principality. Last weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona in Spain, the car’s potential was not podium-worthy, but for once, luck smiled on car number sixteen.
As often happens, those used to handling underperforming cars tend to maximize results. Charles Leclerc has done this since his Formula 1 debut, except for brief periods when Ferrari provided a car capable of winning. It is in his blood. He never gives up and always tries to achieve more than expected.
It is a completely different story for the seven-time Formula 1 world champion. Lewis Hamilton is handling Ferrari’s difficulties in much the same way he did during his last three seasons at Mercedes. The record-holding driver has often shown a certain detachment when the car hasn’t met expectations — which, considering his age, is somewhat understandable.
On the other hand, when he has had a competitive car since 2022, he has transformed into the same relentless competitor who once dominated an entire era of Formula 1. Apart from the Sprint win in China, the Anglo-Caribbean champion has often looked like a passenger in his car. It’s true that adjusting to a completely different environment takes time. But the learning curve is also hindered by a car that does not give the British driver confidence and therefore doesn’t allow him to reach the limit. To a lesser extent, even Carlos Sainz at Williams is undergoing a challenging adaptation period — difficulties amplified by Alex Albon’s strong performances, as he is much more accustomed to driving the British car.
After nine Grands Prix, the 2025 Formula 1 season already seems defined. McLaren and its drivers currently have no rivals. Nevertheless, the historic Italian team intends to approach the remaining fifteen races of the championship by raising its performance level. The team led by Frederic Vasseur is working at a relentless pace. The goal is to finalize a comprehensive package of aerodynamic updates.
The first update will be a new floor spec expected to debut in the Austrian Grand Prix weekend at the Red Bull Ring. According to information gathered and reported by the Italian media, this is a preparatory step ahead of mechanical changes to the rear. In essence, the new floor will not bring a major performance gain. It is a functional update tied to the upcoming improvements the team plans to introduce gradually.
Following the Spanish Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc, despite another podium, made it clear that the current level of the SF-25 is not up to that of its competitors. Without short-term updates, more podiums will be impossible. These are the words of a driver who hasn’t given up, hoping that corrections to project 677 can allow him to remain competitive until the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur shares the same outlook, confirming it is not yet time to think about the 2026 Formula 1 championship. Lewis Hamilton, however, holds a completely different view — not due to emotional swings but from a calculated perspective. Frederic Vasseur acknowledged that it had been some time since Ferrari introduced any updates. The French manager explained that the team would continue to push with the current package and emphasized that the focus for this year was on laying the groundwork, learning the available tools in terms of structure and processes.
That way, when the 2026 Formula 1 championship arrives, Ferrari hope to have the car they really want. Lewis Hamilton’s words essentially draw the curtain on the current season. Thanks to his vast experience, he knows that getting ahead of the game could be decisive for 2026. Will someone at Ferrari listen to him, or will we witness desperate efforts to revive the SF-25 just to protect someone’s job?
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