Ferrari too far behind rivals: Italian journalist describes Australian GP performance as “embarrassing”. Criticism continues to mount against Ferrari.

Winners celebrate, losers explain. And after a highly underwhelming race in Melbourne, Ferrari now finds itself needing to justify the gap to its rivals and respond to the wave of criticism. In the immediate aftermath of the season opener, many have taken aim at the Maranello-based team for its poor showing.

Frederic Vasseur’s squad heads to Shanghai with only five points, a far cry from the expectations set before the race. Ferrari arrived in Melbourne confident that it could challenge McLaren for victory, buoyed by preseason optimism and bold statements.

However, reality told a different story, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing behind teams like Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, and Sauber. As a result, many are now demanding answers as early as the Chinese Grand Prix.

Some call the SF-25 “embarrassing”

Among the critics is veteran journalist Leo Turrini, who has long followed Ferrari’s ups and downs. “Yes, it was only the first race. Yes, there are still 23 to go. Yes, last year taught us that comebacks are possible,” he began in his usual column for Quotidiano Nazionale. “But since I am not a regime propagandist, I’ll get straight to the point. Ferrari in Melbourne was objectively embarrassing. Charles Leclerc didn’t have George Russell’s pace, and he was already much slower than Max Verstappen and the two McLarens. Hamilton spent an eternity stuck behind a Williams. Spin it however you want: this approach was a disaster.”

“There is still time to turn things around, but the disappointment is crushing. The SF-25 was unacceptable in Australia, period. We spent an entire winter getting excited, and then what? Will we win next year? We’ll see in China, but let’s be clear—if you finish 2024 close to McLaren, you cannot start 2025 like this with unchanged technical regulations,” Leo Turrini concluded.

A harsh but entirely justified criticism after such a poor debut. Ferrari urgently needs a turnaround, and the chance to return to the track quickly could be beneficial. However, listening to Leclerc, the upcoming weekend in China may be far from a triumphant one.