How many times have you heard it said during the first part of the 2025 Formula 1 season? This is not the Ferrari people were expecting… The SF-25 is a problematic car… The team is making too many mistakes… And yet, after the ninth race out of the twenty-four on the calendar, it’s not Mercedes or Red Bull that sits second in the Constructors’ Championship—it’s the Maranello team.
Now, that Ferrari should be aiming for the world title and that settling for second is not acceptable is a well-established fact, but in 2025, it’s the best that can realistically be hoped for. Those who follow us already know: at least the writer has always maintained that challenging McLaren this season would be difficult for anyone. Ferrari certainly made a mistake with its winter communication strategy. The public received a message that should never have been sent. But aside from some mishaps—like the disqualifications in China—the overall performance picture is returning to what was expected.
The SF-25 is a car with many problems, but it undeniably holds hidden potential, though it’s difficult to unlock. The Maranello team, even in its current state, could defend second place in the Constructors’ standings. And if they manage to unlock that potential, perhaps they could achieve more than just a third-place finish. That remains to be seen.
Ferrari is a second-place team—Red Bull and Mercedes are in worse shape
This Ferrari is a second-place team. Why are we so sure? Because the others are doing worse. Mercedes is facing ongoing reliability issues with its power unit. There have already been several incidents that have stopped its drivers, so much so that over the European triple-header, the team scored only 18 points, compared to the 71 earned by the Italian side, which is also dealing with reliability concerns—but managing them far better.
Red Bull, meanwhile, is fast—at least with Max Verstappen—but is essentially racing with only one competitive driver. This is a significant handicap for the Milton Keynes team.
Ferrari can hold its own even in these conditions, and there’s still plenty of room for improvement. In Maranello, they must stay focused and not get carried away by fleeting emotions or premature excitement sparked by signs of recovery. The drivers are still having to operate outside of their comfort zones, and that is not a good thing. The championship needs someone—besides Max Verstappen—to challenge McLaren, and Ferrari must work toward this objective. It will be a difficult path, but the season is still long, and the SF-25 is not as bad as people say. Compared to the others, at least.
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