Ferrari’s SF-25 under fire: criticism grows after disappointing Baku performance. Ferrari’s SF-25 came under heavy criticism after the Azerbaijan GP in Baku.

Ferrari’s SF-25 came under heavy criticism after the Azerbaijan GP in Baku

After the disappointing weekend in Baku, Ferrari’s SF-25 has once again become the center of heavy criticism. The Maranello team now finds itself described as running a ‘useless’ car, with doubts raised about the fundamental design of the 2025 challenger and its lack of standout qualities on track.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix exposed many of the weaknesses of the SF-25, which has also cost Ferrari second place in the Constructors’ Championship. The car has proven to be extremely sensitive to track temperatures: it showed promise during free practice sessions but completely disappeared in qualifying. Despite early hopes, development of the car was halted back in June as Ferrari shifted focus to the 2026 project. A new floor package was scheduled to debut in Baku, but technical director Loïc Serra decided to cancel it. Meanwhile, the updated rear suspension failed to deliver the step forward that had been expected, leaving the SF-25 with structural limitations in its design.

One of the most striking issues was the excessive wear of the skid block, a problem linked to how the team has balanced the mechanical setup between front and rear. Combined with a host of other flaws, this left Ferrari with a car that fails to excel in any specific area or condition. Sky Sport F1 analyst Matteo Bobbi was particularly blunt in his assessment, calling the SF-25 “a mediocre car.”

Bobbi’s harsh verdict on Ferrari

According to Matteo Bobbi, the Ferrari lacks any distinctive strengths. He explained that the SF-25 is “a very flat car” with no high points and no low points. In his view, it does not excel in qualifying versus race pace, nor in hot conditions compared to cold ones. Instead, the car seems to float between being the second, third, or even fourth force in Formula 1, but never the outright fastest.

Matteo Bobbi also emphasized that Ferrari’s current position in the championship is largely due to its drivers, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc extracting the maximum possible results from the machinery. In terms of pure performance, however, Ferrari has consistently trailed McLaren and Red Bull, and in many cases has also been behind Mercedes. Bobbi noted that telemetry on Fridays often shows Ferrari using different engine modes, but once rivals increase power, the data makes it clear where Ferrari stands.

Technical doubts and the long road ahead

Matteo Bobbi’s opinion aligns with the growing feeling that the SF-25 has too many flaws and not enough redeeming features. If Ferrari hopes to return to championship contention, its technical department will need to avoid repeating similar mistakes with the 2026 car. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur remains confident in the expertise of his engineers ahead of the regulatory changes, but the pressure is mounting after 17 years without a title.

In Baku, Fred Vasseur also drew a controversial comparison between Ferrari’s SF-25 and McLaren’s MCL39. He claimed the two cars share similar characteristics: when McLaren is competitive, Ferrari is often in the mix too. However, when McLaren struggles, Ferrari fails to shine as well. The Frenchman admitted he was frustrated after the race, believing the team had potential to do better. But critics argue that comparing Ferrari’s winless car to McLaren’s, which is currently fighting for the world championship, shows just how far the Scuderia has fallen behind its rivals.

With Mercedes and Red Bull continuing to set the standard at the front of the grid, Ferrari faces an uphill battle. The SF-25 remains the only car among the top teams without a single victory in 2025, and patience among fans and pundits is wearing thin. The spotlight is now firmly on Maranello to prove that lessons are being learned before Formula 1 enters its next era.