F1 | Ferrari struggles in Qatar as Vasseur again avoids media after qualifying
The weekend continues to be challenging for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton will start the race from 18th, while Charles Leclerc narrowly secured 10th place. For the second Saturday in a row, Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur has chosen not to speak to the media following Ferrari’s qualifying results at the Qatar Grand Prix. A similar situation occurred in Las Vegas after a performance comparable to what was seen in this event.
The Lusail weekend has consistently seen the SF-25 struggle through high-speed corners. The track layout does not suit this car, and the results were evident in the first two days of on-track activity. At this stage, Ferrari heads into the final two races with near certainty of finishing fourth in the Constructors’ Championship standings.
The choice of media silence
The car has been heavily revised after every session, yet the team continues to struggle with this type of circuit. In Qatar, once again in the 2025 F1 season, Ferrari delivered a disappointing qualifying performance, and Fred Vasseur offered no explanation. Continuous adjustments to the front wing flap angles proved ineffective due to repeated mistakes caused by a car struggling to remain stable on track.
The relationship between the Team Principal and the media has been tense for several events. A similar episode occurred at the Las Vegas GP, where Fred Vasseur did not give any interviews following qualifying. The reasons behind this choice remain unclear, possibly linked to the difficult period the team is experiencing.
The only comments about the car came from the drivers themselves, with Charles Leclerc struggling to remain optimistic after the SF-25’s handling issues on this track. Hamilton also criticized the car, highlighting the lack of rear stability and the bouncing that occurs in high-speed corners, a characteristic feature of the Lusail circuit.
As the sun sets on another troubled weekend for the most famous name in Formula 1, attention now turns to Sunday’s race – where overtaking is possible but difficult at this track and starting from 10th and 18th leaves Ferrari with a mountain to climb if they are to salvage anything from what has been a deeply frustrating Qatar Grand Prix.
