Ferrari’s season, expected to be a showcase of triumph, has turned into a narrative of unforeseen struggles and unmet expectations. Despite entering the 2025 F1 season with high hopes, bolstered by the acquisition of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari finds itself in a challenging position, as observed by F1 analyst Jolyon Palmer.
Ferrari, once seen as a frontrunner for the 2025 F1 title, has unexpectedly faltered, gathering only 94 points after six races. This tally places them fourth overall, surprisingly trailing behind individual performances of drivers like Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen. Jolyon Palmer doesn’t hold back in his assessment, labeling Ferrari as the ‘most disappointing team’ so far. “In my view, Ferrari has been the most disappointing team so far, having finished 2024 so strongly,” Palmer comments, reflecting the sentiments of many who anticipated a stronger showing this year.
Amid Ferrari’s struggles, Lewis Hamilton’s own challenges with the SF-25 have come to the forefront. Known for his aggressive cornering style, Hamilton has reportedly been at odds with the car’s “snappy rear instability,” an issue that seemed to plague his tenure at Mercedes as well. “Hamilton is a driver who has struggled with snappy rear instability for the last couple of seasons,” Palmer points out. The seasoned driver prefers high-speed corner entries, necessitating a stable rear end – something the Ferrari car has inconsistently provided, prompting Hamilton to adapt his driving approach, as seen during the Melbourne race.
Adding to Ferrari’s woes are the ongoing efforts of Hamilton to find synergy with his race engineer Riccardo Adami. This driver-engineer partnership is vital for translating race strategies into podium finishes, yet it seems there are still some wrinkles to iron out. Encouraged by his performance in Bahrain, Hamilton expressed frustration after Miami, stating, “[It’s] just me. Just not gelling with the car at the moment.” This sentiment underscores the persistent challenges within the Ferrari camp, contrasting starkly with their earlier optimism.
While success has been elusive for Ferrari, there were glimpses of potential, such as Hamilton’s sprint race victory in China and Charles Leclerc’s podium finish in Saudi Arabia. However, these moments of triumph have been overshadowed by ongoing technical and team dynamic challenges. F1 insiders speculate that team principal Fred Vasseur might be feeling the pressure as the season progresses.
In what was supposed to be a year of resurgence, Ferrari has encountered a series of setbacks. The interplay of technical issues and team dynamics has dimmed their once bright prospects. As the season unfolds, the focus will remain on whether Ferrari and Hamilton can overcome these hurdles and rekindle their championship ambitions.
