The Ferrari paradox: why SF-25 falls short despite similarities to McLaren. Ferrari paradox: the SF-25 is closest to McLaren yet still winless – here’s why.

Ferrari paradox: the car most like McLaren yet still without victories – here’s why

In front of the most passionate and vocal Formula 1 crowd at Monza, the Ferrari SF-25 revealed its true nature: a car unable to excel in any single area, seemingly destined to live off solid finishes rather than victories. The iconic red and the chorus of fans under the podium, as always, were present at Monza this year: the red of the flags, the emotional expressions of supporters, many of them young and accompanied by families, reflecting a pride passed down through generations.

Ferrari SF-25: similar to McLaren but lacking a clear strength

However, the numbers tell a different story. When comparing Ferrari to its rivals and analyzing the championship evolution, one question emerges: what can Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton truly rely on? The SF-25 lacks a clear, dominant strength. It is not the fastest on the straights, as the SF-23 once was, nor is it exceptional in slow corners like the F175 or even the SF-24. Its tire management is not at the elite level seen in McLaren cars, and it struggles to excel on both single-lap performance and race pace. Overall, the SF-25 is moderately competitive across all areas but excellent in none, which is why it rarely surprises. In Formula 1, mediocrity is rarely rewarded with race wins; a team always needs at least one standout characteristic.

This contrast is evident when looking at Ferrari’s competition. Despite experiencing a 2025 season less consistent than the early years of the ground-effect era, Red Bull maintains exceptional aerodynamics in high-speed corners, enabling Max Verstappen to secure three victories. Mercedes, while typically ranking as the third or fourth car on track, showed dominance at a circuit like Canada with a double podium (P1 George Russell, P3 Kimi Antonelli). Clearly, McLaren remains the benchmark: a solid car everywhere, fast in all conditions, and with room for further growth. Ferrari is perhaps the closest in character to the MCL39 because it avoids dramatic highs and lows, but this very consistency often relegates it to a supporting role rather than a leading one, as explained by F1 expert Piergiuseppe Donadoni for autoracer.it.

The paradox of the SF-25: consistency without peaks

The paradox of the SF-25 is that, being more consistent than rivals, it currently sits second in the Constructors’ Championship. This is partly due to Red Bull lacking a true second car and a mid-season dip for Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes. Yet, it is not guaranteed that Ferrari can fully exploit competitors’ off days. When McLaren underperforms, Red Bull often steps in to win at Monza, Imola, and Suzuka, while Mercedes took advantage in Canada. When Ferrari ranks as the second-best car, at least one McLaren often remains ahead, simply because the SF-25 resembles a less-performing MCL39. This situation dampens both driver morale and fan enthusiasm: without performance peaks, the illusion of a victory becomes impossible.

Charles Leclerc sees Baku, Singapore, and Las Vegas as podium opportunities

Originally, the SF-25 was expected to continue Ferrari’s development path, building on the work started under Fred Vasseur and his team. Instead, race after race, it has highlighted the limitations of a project now seemingly without a clear identity. There is no track sector where the SF-25 truly outperforms rivals. There is no circuit where Ferrari starts as the favorite. The days when Ferrari could become unbeatable, even for a single race, seem to have disappeared—at least for now.

Charles Leclerc, speaking from Ferrari’s hospitality at Monza, avoided bold proclamations and suggested that Baku, Singapore, and Las Vegas might represent the three Grand Prix where Ferrari could realistically aim for podiums rather than victories. He noted that Baku is a track he enjoys, but with its easy overtaking opportunities, winning would be challenging. Singapore, another circuit he likes, requires strong qualifying performance, and race overtaking is more difficult. Hence, Leclerc believes that Baku, Singapore, and possibly Las Vegas could bring Ferrari closer to victory, though McLaren and Red Bull remain the main favorites. Listening to Leclerc, there is a real risk that Ferrari could spend the entire season without even the consolation of an unexpected win or technical breakthrough—a fate that is particularly hard for the Monegasque driver to accept, and one that the passionate Tifosi at Monza certainly do not deserve.

So the inevitable question arises: after the high expectations generated during the winter, especially from statements at the March event at Castello Sforzesco, is Ferrari once again at risk of becoming a symbol of unfulfilled potential?