Stefano Domenicali backs Ferrari response plan after disappointing F1 season. Stefano Domenicali calls for calm and determination after Ferrari’s disappointing 2025 F1 season.

A leading figure in modern Formula 1 has shared his view on Ferrari’s current critical situation. After a 2024 season that could be considered broadly positive for the Scuderia, the most recent campaign told a very different story, marked by a clear downturn in performance. The 2025 season once again placed the spotlight on the long-standing issues that have affected Ferrari’s Formula 1 department in Maranello for many years.

Finishing fourth in the Constructors’ Championship – even behind Red Bull – has intensified the sense of frustration and disappointment among Ferrari fans. Against this backdrop, Stefano Domenicali, who has spent a significant part of his Formula 1 career closely linked to Ferrari, attempted to restore a sense of calm among supporters. He explained that the situation is not as bleak as it may currently appear.

The current CEO of Formula One Group insisted that an organisation like Ferrari cannot move forward without a clear and structured plan for the future. After such a disappointing 2025 campaign, confidence in the Maranello-based team has dropped sharply. Many observers believe that, over the past two decades, the atmosphere surrounding Ferrari has rarely felt this negative.

Stefano Domenicali on Ferrari: “I am positive. Fred Vasseur certainly has a plan in mind”

Stefano Domenicali, drawing on his extensive experience in motorsport and his deep knowledge of Ferrari’s internal dynamics, expressed confidence in the leadership currently guiding the team. He stated that Fred Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc already have a clear idea of how to respond to the difficulties of the past season.

“I am a positive person. I don’t think there is any need to cry. There is no reason to always be negative. They need a plan, and I am sure that Fred, Lewis and Charles have one. That is what really matters,” Stefano Domenicali said in an interview with Sky Sports.

He then expanded on the importance of attitude and reaction, stressing that accepting a poor result should never become normal. “I think the key thing is to react, not to give up as if finishing fourth in the championship were acceptable. We want to see a strong Ferrari. Ferrari deserves to be in a higher position,” Stefano Domenicali explained.

“This is what they should be focusing on during the winter break: making sure the right energy is in place and working in the correct direction. Right now, everyone is talking about the future, but making predictions is impossible,” he added.

Beyond the result: why Ferrari’s future depends on its reaction

The words of the Formula 1 CEO represent a call for clarity rather than false optimism. Ferrari is once again going through a transitional phase, but the core issue goes beyond the result of a single season. What truly matters is the team’s ability to turn disappointment into a credible and concrete turning point.

Having a plan, however, will not be enough on its own. That plan must be applied consistently and protected from external pressure and from the emotional instability that has surrounded the Italian team for years. In this sense, the winter break becomes a crucial test, not only from a technical perspective but also in terms of mindset and organisational culture.

As Stefano Domenicali underlined, reacting does not mean ignoring failure, but neither does it mean accepting it as normal. It means acknowledging shortcomings, learning from them, and transforming them into the first step toward a Ferrari that can become credible again before even thinking about becoming a winning force in Formula 1.