Ferrari: 2025 F1 Season Not a Total Failure Despite Losing Second Place

Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 campaign stutters after Las Vegas, dropping the team to fourth, 53 points behind Mercedes, as SF-25 limitations and operational errors continue to undercut its results.

In Las Vegas, Charles Leclerc finishes sixth and Lewis Hamilton tenth. McLaren’s double disqualification lifts both, yet Mercedes still outscores Ferrari by keeping its cars ahead.

Hamilton starts last after a poor qualifying. A Turn 14 error and unclear radio guidance prevent a second run, reinforcing concerns about Ferrari’s execution under pressure.

Strategy compounds the pain. Ferrari pits Leclerc three laps after Oscar Piastri, dropping him into a DRS queue that costs significant time on a circuit demanding track position.

Limited long-run data explains the gamble, not the outcome. With earlier timing, Leclerc likely clears Kimi Antonelli, who receives a post-race five-second penalty.

Leclerc voices frustration post-qualifying, saying he will not miss the SF-25 when the season ends in Abu Dhabi.

The slump follows Brazil’s double retirement and sharp public criticism from chairman John Elkann. Together, they intensify scrutiny on the team and its drivers.

Team principal Frederic Vasseur resists disaster talk. He notes Ferrari sat second two weeks earlier, yet concedes recent weekends yield only six or seven points.

Underneath the results lies the SF-25’s narrow setup window. The car struggles in wet or mixed conditions, sapping confidence and exposing sensitivity to small balance shifts.

That variability frequently hinges on tyre warm-up and aerodynamic load distribution. Miss the sweet spot, and Ferrari oscillates between podium potential and midfield vulnerability.

Vasseur emphasises rigorous internal reviews and accountability. He pushes the drivers hard, targets cleaner operations, and seeks incremental gains that convert qualifying promise into points.

The Abu Dhabi finale now carries weight. Ferrari must stabilise execution, maximise the SF-25’s window, and protect championship position against Mercedes and Red Bull momentum.

Visual Summary

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.