Scuderia Ferrari find themselves in urgent need of a complete reset as Formula 1 heads into the 2025 summer break, following a frustrating and inconsistent first half of the championship.
The Italian side currently sit second in the Constructors’ Championship, but they remain the only outfit within the top four yet to secure a single victory this year. Their points tally has been boosted largely by Charles Leclerc, who has delivered all five of Ferrari’s podium finishes so far.
A potential breakthrough seemed within reach at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where the 27-year-old driver managed to take a sensational pole position. Hopes of a shock victory, however, quickly faded once the McLaren cars displayed superior race pace and Ferrari’s strategy once again faltered. The Monegasque driver ultimately crossed the line in fourth place, and it was reported that he had to be calmed down afterwards to prevent an angry outburst in the media zone.
This pattern has defined Ferrari’s 2025 campaign to date. The team has repeatedly struggled to extract consistent performance from the SF-25, with issues ranging from car balance to questionable race strategies. Leclerc has nevertheless shown an ability to push beyond the limits of the machinery, unlike his new teammate Lewis Hamilton, who continues to wait for his first podium in Ferrari colours.
Hamilton’s highlight of the year so far remains his Sprint victory in Shanghai, but the remainder of his season has been overshadowed by difficulties and disappointment. His race at Budapest, where he started and finished in 12th place, was so dispiriting that he even hinted Ferrari might be better off replacing him, underlining the depth of his frustration with the current situation.
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has weighed in on Ferrari’s struggles, suggesting that the Scuderia are finally beginning to recognise the seriousness of their underlying problems. According to Montoya, Ferrari are becoming aware that the very foundations of their current project are not strong enough, leaving both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with an unpredictable car that lacks stability.
The Colombian, speaking to AS Colombia, explained that Hamilton’s challenges have little to do with his age. Instead, he argued that the seven-time world champion has spent many years driving cars with a particular handling style and feel, while the Ferrari behaves in a completely different manner and is notoriously difficult to master. Montoya stated that Ferrari appear to be realising their base concept is fundamentally flawed, resulting in a car that is complicated, inconsistent, and in need of a complete rethink. He suggested that the Italian team must take a step back from their current approach if they are to avoid further stagnation.
Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has also brought a wave of criticism aimed at how the team operates in 2025. The British driver has struggled with ground-effect cars ever since the new technical regulations were introduced in 2022, often describing his Mercedes machinery as unpredictable. The same issue has now followed him to Maranello, although in Ferrari’s case the problems may run deeper than just the driving characteristics.
Remarkably, Hamilton has been sending Ferrari detailed documents outlining how he believes the car and the team’s overall operations could be improved. While it is not unusual for Formula 1 drivers to provide technical feedback, the level of scrutiny and the direct challenges Hamilton is posing to Ferrari’s entrenched methods have raised eyebrows. Not even Michael Schumacher, who transformed Ferrari into a dominant force in the early 2000s, directly questioned the team’s traditional way of working to such an extent.
In his notes, the Briton has highlighted three critical areas he feels require urgent attention, covering both the behaviour of the SF-25 and the wider team organisation. With Ferrari now at risk of losing second place in the championship standings, it is becoming increasingly clear that his concerns may carry more weight than initially acknowledged. For some observers, Ferrari are slowly coming to the realisation that the 40-year-old champion may have been correct about their weaknesses all along.
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