Lewis Hamilton has endured the worst start to an F1 season of his career since joining Ferrari, where Charles Leclerc has their only podiums prior to the Austrian Grand Prix.
The travelling circus of Formula 1 has pitched its tents in the foothills of the Styrian Alps this week, with Ferrari just looking to regain second place in the constructors’ standings. Despite finishing second to McLaren by 14 points last year, the Scuderia sit 191 points adrift in third.
Mercedes surpassed the pride of Italy last time out, as George Russell won the Canadian GP from pole position. It was the Silver Arrows’ first win of the 2025 F1 season so far, as Leclerc led Ferrari’s hopes in P5 ahead of Hamilton in P6 after starting from P8 and P5 in Montreal.
Hamilton has now failed to earn a podium in the first 10 rounds of a season for the first time in his 19-year career. The Briton failing to reach the rostrum at the Austrian GP will even see Hamilton post a new record by missing the podium in 13 consecutive races for the first time.
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Charles Leclerc stunned that ‘everyone’ at Ferrari thinks the 2025 F1 titles are out of reach
Such has been the plight in Maranello so far this term that Hamilton considered giving up on Ferrari’s 2025 campaign. The 40-year-old’s best result since joining the Scuderia this term remains his P4 at Imola, while Leclerc came P2 in Monaco plus P3 in Saudi Arabia and Spain.
It is even reported in Italy that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is under pressure to save his job. The Austrian GP falls in the middle of a speculated three-round run for Vasseur to avoid the sack at Ferrari. Maranello chiefs want answers for why this year has gone so badly.
The mood in Maranello has also stunned Leclerc, as he admits via Blick prior to the Austrian GP that ‘everyone’ at Ferrari now doubts they can win the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship or constructors’ title. Leclerc is their top driver, but now trails leader Oscar Piastri by 94 points.
“Somehow, everyone already has the feeling that it won’t happen in 2025,” Leclerc said.
Fred Vasseur admits that Ferrari are ‘a long way’ from winning an F1 championship
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Leclerc only sits fifth in the drivers’ standings ahead of the Austrian GP, with Hamilton sixth with just 79 points compared to the Monegasque’s 104 so far this year. McLaren ace Piastri leads the way with 198 points ahead of his teammate Lando Norris on 176 after 10 rounds.
With McLaren also leading the constructors’ championship on 374 points over Mercedes on 199 and Ferrari on 183 ahead of the Austrian GP, Vasseur even admits that the Scuderia are ‘a long way’ from winning an F1 title. Ferrari began 2025 believing they would fight for both.
Vasseur conceded, via quotes by Blick: “Yes, it’s true. We entered this year to win the world championship. We’re still a long way from that at the moment.”
Leclerc and Hamilton will not like hearing Vasseur admit that Ferrari are ‘a long way’ from a title-winning campaign, but the evidence is in their records. Ferrari are the only one of F1’s current big four teams still yet to win a Grand Prix or score a pole position in the 2025 term.
McLaren have secured six poles through Piastri (4) and Norris (2), while Red Bull have three through Verstappen and Mercedes have one through Russell. Piastri has also taken five wins so far in 2025, while Norris has won two, Verstappen has won two and Russell has won one.
