A Challenging Year for Ferrari and Hamilton
After securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season and welcoming Lewis Hamilton into the team, expectations were high for Scuderia Ferrari heading into the 2025 campaign. Many anticipated a fierce championship battle against rivals such as McLaren, Red Bull Racing, and Mercedes-AMG Petronas. However, the reality has turned out to be far more complex and disappointing for the legendary Italian outfit.
From the early races of the season, the SF-25 single-seater did not live up to its promise. The car has consistently appeared difficult to extract performance from, and Ferrari’s engineers have struggled to unlock its full potential. It quickly became apparent that the development path would be long and arduous, and so far, the team’s pursuit of competitiveness has resembled a chase after an elusive mirage.
Among the most affected by the SF-25’s limitations has been Lewis Hamilton himself. The British driver, in his debut season with Ferrari after leaving Mercedes, has found himself battling with an unpredictable and difficult-to-handle car. The idea that, by the thirteenth round of the season, he would not have made a single appearance on the podium would have seemed unimaginable just months ago. Yet, that is precisely the situation Hamilton faces now.
His struggles were further highlighted during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. Despite the team introducing a revised rear suspension for this event, Hamilton was eliminated in Q1 during both qualifying sessions—an outcome that was nearly impossible to foresee at the beginning of the weekend.
End of the Development Line for the SF-25
With Ferrari having already introduced a new floor and a reworked rear suspension setup, it appears the list of upgrades for the SF-25 is now complete. According to Lewis Hamilton, who spoke with Sky Sports UK, no further performance updates are planned for the rest of the season.
“Everyone is working at full speed back at the factory,” said the 40-year-old Formula 1 veteran. “We’ve made some improvements, but I believe there will be no further upgrades this year. I think the focus now, at least in the factory, is on the car for next year.”
Lewis Hamilton, who is experiencing one of the most difficult seasons of his illustrious career, also reflected on the struggles: “This season has been quite complicated.”
This statement confirms what many in the paddock had already suspected: Ferrari has decided to shift its resources and technical efforts toward the future, most likely eyeing the significant regulation changes set to come into effect in 2026. That season will bring an entirely new set of technical rules, particularly concerning power units and aerodynamics, and many teams have begun the transition to long-term planning.
For Lewis Hamilton, the remainder of the 2025 season may be more about enduring the challenges and laying the foundation for better results in the future, rather than fighting for wins or podiums. Despite the setbacks, the British driver remains committed to Ferrari’s long-term vision, even if short-term success seems increasingly out of reach.
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