SF-25 in Zandvoort: Ferrari overhauls F1 setup yet struggles in key areas. Ferrari suffered a double retirement at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both failed to finish.

Ferrari Suffers Double Retirement at Dutch Grand Prix Despite Setup Overhaul

Ferrari endured a disastrous start to the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Dutch Grand Prix, as both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were not able to finish the race in Zandvoort. The weekend highlighted ongoing challenges for the Scuderia despite a major overhaul of their SF-25 setup.

Lewis Hamilton faced a difficult weekend from the start, struggling to optimize the car’s performance during Friday practice. The seven-time World Champion spun in both sessions and posted lap times over a second off the pace. Qualifying provided a brief improvement, with Lewis Hamilton advancing into Q3, yet the race proved unforgiving. Exiting the banking at Turn 3, Hamilton made a costly mistake and crashed, ending his race prematurely and putting further pressure on Charles Leclerc’s strategy.

Leclerc found himself navigating behind George Russell’s Mercedes and had to fight aggressively to climb to fifth place. However, his race ended in misfortune when rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli misjudged an overtaking move on the banking and collided with him, forcing another Ferrari retirement. The double DNF was a severe setback for the team at a circuit where high-speed performance is critical.

Technical Insights: Ferrari’s Struggles at Zandvoort

Despite the disappointing results, Ferrari engineers were able to gather valuable data from the Dutch Grand Prix. According to journalist Mark Hughes on F1.com, the team implemented a completely reconfigured setup that allowed the SF-25 to run at lower ride heights without causing excessive plank wear. This adjustment improved the car’s balance, particularly in slow corners, but Ferrari continued to struggle in high-speed sections of the Zandvoort circuit.

The issues with plank wear have been a recurring theme for Ferrari in 2025. Earlier in the season, both drivers were disqualified in China due to technical infringements related to excessive plank wear, and the Monegasque driver lost a potential victory in Hungary over a suspected plank-related issue. While the Dutch GP setup addressed some of these problems, compromises were still necessary, particularly in managing high-speed stability.

Hamilton Faces Grid Penalty at Monza

The challenges for Ferrari continue as they head to their home race at Monza. Lewis Hamilton has been handed a five-place grid penalty after being found to have exceeded the speed limit under double-waved yellow flags at Turn 14 prior to the start of the Dutch GP. The stewards determined that Hamilton did not reduce his speed sufficiently, adding further pressure on the team to deliver a strong result in front of their passionate Tifosi.

Ferrari will be eager to reverse their recent fortunes and secure a race victory, which has so far eluded them in the 2025 season. Despite the setbacks, the Scuderia remains in contention for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, keeping the battle with Mercedes for a top-tier finish very much alive.