From bad to victorious to disastrous: Ferrari’s tumultuous start to 2025
Since their return to the sharp end of the Formula 1 grid at the start of the new regulations back in 2022, Ferrari have garnered an unwanted reputation of not always fulfilling their potential.
When Fred Vasseur took the helm of F1’s most successful team, the Tifosi dreamed of a return to championship glory. Vasseur’s tenure has brought more strength and security to the Scuderia - culminating in the team’s remarkable second place finish in the Constructors’ Championship during 2024, marginally behind McLaren.
But his most momentous achievement has been persuading F1’s most statistically successful driver, Lewis Hamilton, to move from Mercedes to Maranello.
With Hamilton eager to achieve a record-breaking eighth World Championship, and Leclerc poised to challenge for a maiden title, Ferrari was expected to instantly rival McLaren in 2025 after a pre-season of anticipation mixed with secrecy.
However in the opening round in Australia, the Ferraris struggled to unlock any strong pace and concluded a disappointing weekend with a mere five points, twenty seconds behind the lead.
China provided an opportunity to reset and Hamilton, now donned in red with a striking yellow helmet, rocketed to pole position for the sprint race – setting a new lap record in the process.
Hamilton went on to execute a controlled and dominant drive to a first sprint victory for both driver and team. Hamilton’s heroics, exemplified through his previous six wins in China (the most of any driver), gave a taste of Ferrari’s potential this season and a wave of optimism for the Tifosi.
But the Grand Prix shrunk this to a minor ripple.
An unremarkable qualifying meant that Hamilton and Leclerc started fifth and sixth for the main race.
The scarlet-red cars dismissed Max Verstappen into Shanghai’s winding opening corner complex, but brief kerb-riding meant Leclerc’s front wing became damaged after knocking the back of his teammate. But strangely, Leclerc, without a front wing endplate, was faster than Hamilton and was let loose to chase after George Russell.
Ferrari then utilised a gap to put Hamilton on fresh tyres, but their plan never came to fruition as he finished sixth, despite being the fastest car on track. Leclerc didn’t progress much either as Verstappen’s unpredictable Red Bull found an optimal working window, which he exploited greatly as he breezed past Leclerc to reclaim fourth.
Just when the situation didn’t seem like it could get any worse, it did. After the race, both Ferraris were disqualified - Leclerc’s car was underweight and Hamilton’s plank had worn 0.5mm too thin. The team later confirmed a “misjudgement” caused Hamilton’s disqualification whereas Leclerc’s was down to high tyre wear.
After two disastrous Grand Prix and one outstanding sprint, Ferrari sit fifth in the Constructors’ standings – level with Williams after their conversely impressive season start. The 16-time champions are far from where they aim to be, but glimmers of strong pace and a driver lineup that is possibly the best the sport has ever seen encourage the dreams of the Tifosi are still alive.
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