Former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola has analyzed what he believes to be the two key problems currently holding back the Scuderia in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Has the long-standing enigma that has been draining Ferrari’s performance finally been uncovered?
The ex-Ferrari engineer tried to identify the underlying issues behind the SF-25’s disappointing performance, as the technical team from Maranello continues to search for extreme solutions to compensate for the car’s weaknesses. Despite the team’s efforts, the situation remains critical, and Mazzola’s insight sheds light on the areas that need immediate attention.
Several factors continue to affect Ferrari’s 2025 challenger. After qualifying, Charles Leclerc made it clear that the so-called “forced changes” were related to the car’s ride height. Following the second free practice session, the mechanics noticed excessive wear on the plank, forcing them to raise the car by a few millimeters. However, that small adjustment was enough to cost crucial tenths of performance. What remains difficult to explain is the number of issues linked to the braking system, particularly with temperature management, which has become increasingly challenging for both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton compared to their rivals. Engineer Luigi Mazzola shared his thoughts on the matter during Race Anatomy.
Mazzola: “So they go looking for load by reducing…”
“I would say first of all that I don’t know exactly what’s going on inside Ferrari, and it’s hard to make assumptions. Today, after only four laps, the drivers had to start managing the brakes. That’s why I believe they have two fundamental problems. They can’t lower the car where the aerodynamic load is generated because of the plank wear. So they try to find downforce by reducing the brake area, which is a sensitive part of the car. They look for load there and end up with a compromise that forces them to manage it during the race. There’s something inside the organization that needs to be examined carefully, especially in track management. It doesn’t seem to me that they’re fully on top of things, and Lewis Hamilton has said it himself.”
Mazzola’s theory perfectly aligns with Ferrari’s current technical approach. To compensate for the lack of downforce from the floor, engineers are attempting to recover it elsewhere — in this case, from components such as the brakes. However, before addressing the technical issues, Luigi Mazzola believes the team must first deal with the human and organizational factors that create a cascading effect on performance. It seems that the SF-25 has reached a point where there is no alternative method to extract more pace. The mistakes made this season must not be repeated in 2026. According to Luigi Mazzola, there’s a missing piece within the team that affects how operations are carried out across race weekends.
“Frédéric Vasseur’s words aren’t entirely wrong,” Luigi Mazzola explained. “He says that the team needs to find the car’s potential — and sometimes it’s there. But when they reach the limit conditions where the brakes overheat or the plank wears too much, that potential disappears. How many times have we heard them resort to lift and coast? Isn’t there a way to solve this in the wind tunnel? They know exactly where the issue lies, so the real problem comes down to track management and communication between the circuit and Maranello. In my opinion, something important is missing in that process.”
Luigi Mazzola’s comments once again raise questions about Ferrari’s internal dynamics, particularly in how the trackside operations interact with the factory in Maranello. The lack of coherence and consistency between the data gathered on track and the simulations back at base appears to be contributing to the SF-25’s unpredictable behavior. As the 2025 season continues, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Ferrari’s problems go beyond pure performance — they extend to the team’s decision-making process and internal communication.
According to many insiders, the current crisis at Ferrari cannot be solved merely through technical updates or aerodynamic tweaks. What is required is a structural and managerial realignment to ensure that the decisions made at Maranello are accurately reflected in how the car is operated on race weekends. Luigi Mazzola’s analysis reinforces the idea that Ferrari’s struggles are not confined to the wind tunnel or the track but rooted in a deeper, systemic issue that needs urgent attention.
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