Ferrari’s Struggles in 2025: A Deep Dive into the Prancing Horse’s Problems

The 2025 Formula 1 season is proving turbulent for Scuderia Ferrari. Despite Charles Leclerc’s recent podium appearances, cracks in the team’s performance are becoming increasingly difficult to paper over. With mounting rumors of technical upgrades and increasing frustration from both drivers and fans, the famous Prancing Horse is in dire need of direction. Let’s break down where Ferrari is going wrong, why their position in the championship standings is misleading, and what must change for the team to emerge as a championship contender in 2026.

Podiums Can’t Mask Performance Problems

From the outside, seeing Charles Leclerc step onto the podium might suggest Ferrari are turning things around. But that’s a superficial read, contradicted by consistent complaints from both Leclerc and his new teammate—seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Far from feeling buoyed, both drivers express deep dissatisfaction with the car’s pace, balance, and consistency.

Leclerc’s podium in Spain, for instance, felt more a result of other teams’ misfortunes and strategic calls than true race-winning pace. When the race weekends unfold, Ferrari’s competitive edge seems to fade, especially as unpredictable tire degradation, questionable strategy calls, and inconsistent car behavior rear their heads.

The Myth of Second Best

Ferrari currently sit second in the Constructors’ Championship, but this position flatters them. The points haul owes more to the relentless consistency and resilience of Leclerc and Hamilton than outright car speed. Notably, the duo have scored points at nearly every race—save for anomalies like the double disqualification in China—while rivals have lost ground to reliability issues or less consistent driver pairings.

Look past the points, however, and you’ll see that Ferrari’s raw performance frequently lags behind Red Bull, McLaren, and, on occasion, even the likes of Mercedes or Aston Martin. The improving Alpine and VCARB squads have at times shown shocking pace relative to Ferrari, illustrating just how thin Ferrari’s performance margin really is.

Technical Troubles and ‘The Upgrade Hope’

Rumors swirl of a reengineered rear suspension package set to debut in Canada or Silverstone. While such upgrades are necessary, history suggests they’re rarely silver bullets. Ferrari’s broader issues stem from an inconsistent aerodynamic platform, difficulty interpreting tire behavior, and a lack of adaptability between practice, qualifying, and race sessions.

Hamilton, throughout 2025, has struggled especially to extract maximum performance from the car. What’s most concerning is not just the absolute pace deficit, but how the car’s balance and grip seem to vanish unexpectedly between sessions. Hamilton’s FP1 and FP2 times have created optimism, only for race day to reveal a completely different—and much slower—beast.

Communication Breakdown

Beyond technical challenges, Ferrari’s issues are compounded by operational and communication shortcomings. Hamilton’s integration has been rocky, especially in his partnership with engineer Riccardo Adami. Whether through a language barrier or philosophical disconnect, Hamilton is not receiving the focused, tailored information he thrived on at Mercedes.

During the recent Monaco and Spanish GPs, this translated into strategy uncertainty—boxing early to avoid an undercut in the first stint, yet leaving him out too long in the second, costing track position and time to direct rivals. Worse still, Hamilton has often been left unclear on his race targets, lap deltas, or even position within the race—situations almost unimaginable during his stint with Peter Bonnington (“Bono”) at Mercedes.

2025: A Season at Crossroads

With so many issues evident, is it even wise for Ferrari to keep focusing on 2025? A growing chorus within the F1 world—and among Ferrari’s own fans—argues that the team should already shift resources to 2026, when a wholly new ruleset provides a clean slate.

The logic is brutal but compelling: the 2025 car isn’t winning a championship. Even if Ferrari fix their worst reliability and communication issues, the fundamental concept lags behind the best. By contrast, 2026 opens a new technological arms race—on engine design, chassis, and aero regulations—giving Ferrari a chance to start afresh and build a genuine contender for Leclerc and Hamilton.

The Drivers—Warriors Without Weapons

Both Leclerc and Hamilton deserve admiration for their relentless efforts. Leclerc’s relentless optimism and tenacity continue to deliver results that flatter the car’s true ability. Hamilton, though yet to score the podium that would take him to a record-extending 300, has eked out every possible point despite misfortune, poor strategy, and the aforementioned communication mishaps.

It’s no exaggeration to say that these drivers mask the car’s true deficiencies—second place in the Constructors’ is due more to their skill and consistency than any engineering magic from Maranello.

Missed Opportunities and the Strategic Conundrum

Ferrari’s 2024 campaign saw them fall narrowly short in both drivers’ and teams’ championships, thanks in large part to a remarkable second-half turnaround. Many hoped this momentum would continue into 2025. Instead, Ferrari have regressed: operational errors, strategy blunders, and missed upgrades have led to a stagnation that’s hard to accept for such an illustrious marque.

Compare this to McLaren, whose iterative upgrades and rapid learning have vaulted them into regular race victory contention, exploiting Ferrari’s errors and inertia.

What Comes Next?

For Ferrari, the question is not whether they can win races in 2025, but how quickly they can pivot their vast resources, human capital, and technical talent towards ’26. Fred Vasseur and the entire Maranello team must recognize that salvaging a lackluster campaign is less important than ensuring they are ready to attack the new regulations with an entirely new philosophy and design.

In doing so, they must resolve internal communication issues—especially for Hamilton—build a cohesive, culturally united team, and give their drivers the clarity and confidence they need on race day. Above all, the Prancing Horse must recapture its fighting spirit; only then can a new championship era begin.

Until then, Ferrari fans must be patient—and hope that the lessons of 2025 sow the seeds for glory in 2026.