Lewis Hamilton Still Chasing Ferrari Breakthrough as FIA Ruling Deepens Struggles Ahead of 2025 Canadian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton is still searching for his first Grand Prix podium as a Ferrari driver ahead of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix—and the FIA’s recent regulation change may have just made his pursuit even more difficult.
Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated switch to Ferrari at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season raised expectations across the paddock. However, nearly halfway through the campaign, the seven-time world champion’s move to Maranello has yet to yield the success many envisioned. Hamilton currently sits sixth in the F1 drivers’ standings with just 71 points, and despite some strong qualifying performances, he’s yet to convert them into a top-three finish on Sunday. In contrast, his former Mercedes teammate George Russell has already racked up 111 points and claimed four podiums, including a runner-up finish in Bahrain. Lewis Hamilton’s best result in red so far remains a fourth-place at Imola.
FIA’s Front Wing Crackdown Derails Ferrari’s Progress—and Hamilton’s 2025 Hopes
Ferrari’s situation was further complicated by the FIA’s revised technical directive aimed at restricting flexible front wings. The governing body introduced more stringent vertical load tests starting from the Spanish Grand Prix, reducing allowable deflection from 15mm to 10mm. Team principal Fred Vasseur had hoped this clampdown would bring McLaren back within reach and potentially shift momentum in Ferrari’s favor.
But instead, according to the Italian media, the Maranello team’s analysis of the post-Spain data revealed a disappointing outcome—the revised front wing configuration has made the SF-25 approximately 0.1 seconds per lap slower on average. Despite this, both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc initially provided optimistic feedback about the feel and balance of the updated front end.
Technically, Ferrari has returned to a front wing design that matches the stiffness levels seen on the 2024 SF-24 during last October’s United States Grand Prix. However, this adjustment came at a steep cost. Reports suggest the team spent over 50% of its entire 2025 development budget for front wing upgrades trying to adapt to the new FIA-imposed limits. Engineers have attempted to recover some of the lost performance through improved outwash and airflow optimization, but overall aerodynamic efficiency has suffered.
The Canadian Grand Prix will offer another test for the effectiveness of the updated front wing, but early signs indicate that Ferrari’s compromise to meet the FIA’s flexi-wing rules has only further exposed the limitations of the SF-25.
Lewis Hamilton’s Push to Prioritize 2026 Gains Momentum as Ferrari Struggles Deepen
What was initially viewed as a strategic advantage has instead become another setback in Ferrari’s stuttering 2025 campaign. McLaren’s commanding one-two finish in Spain—courtesy of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri—widened the Scuderia’s deficit in the constructors’ standings to a daunting 197 points.
The atmosphere within the Maranello garage has turned increasingly bleak. While Fred Vasseur remains one of the few voices in leadership still backing the potential of the 2025 challenger, many team members—mechanics and engineers alike—have reportedly aligned with Hamilton’s belief: it’s time to turn attention toward 2026. The mood among Ferrari personnel suggests that few still believe the current car can be meaningfully improved this season.
That shift in mindset may soon translate into action. Ferrari is finalizing a significant rear suspension upgrade, which they hope will resolve one of Lewis Hamilton’s biggest complaints—the inconsistent and unpredictable behavior of the SF-25. If those upgrades also fall short of expectations, the team may have little choice but to reallocate resources early to the new 2026 F1 regulations.
Lewis Hamilton’s call to shift focus may not just be about this year—it could be about salvaging his legacy in red.
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