Ferrari boss reveals Lewis Hamilton setback ahead of F1 2025 Ba…read more
As the Formula 1 2025 season heads into the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has issued a sobering update on the team’s progress, cautioning fans and drivers alike that the upcoming upgrades will not bring instant results. His remarks come as a setback for the championship aspirations of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who are both counting on a mid-season turnaround to become serious contenders in the title fight.
Ferrari has endured a troubling start to the 2025 season, failing to secure a single podium finish and suffering one of their poorest openings in the team’s storied 75-year history. The campaign hit a new low with a disastrous outing at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on March 23, where both drivers were disqualified due to technical infringements—marking a rare and humbling double DNF for the legendary Italian marque.
Despite the underwhelming performances so far, Ferrari remains optimistic that they’ve identified the root cause of their struggles. According to internal analysis, the team believes their SF-25 challenger is roughly three tenths of a second slower per lap than front-runners like Red Bull and McLaren. Encouragingly, a development plan is already underway to close that performance gap, but Vasseur is keen to manage expectations.
Speaking to reporters, including those from Total-Motorsport.com, Vasseur admitted that while updates are on the horizon, there’s no quick fix that will catapult Ferrari to the front of the grid. “We will definitely be bringing updates soon,” he confirmed. “But first, we have to fix the balance problems and make the most of this car.”
The Frenchman emphasized that Ferrari still has untapped potential within their current package, but issues with setup and car balance are preventing the drivers from extracting maximum performance. “At the moment, it doesn’t make sense to rush into thinking that new parts will magically fix everything. Even when the updates arrive, there will be no miracles for us—or for anyone else. We have to take one step at a time.”
These comments serve as a reality check, particularly for Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season with hopes of claiming a record-breaking eighth world championship. The seven-time world champion made the high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari during the off-season, sparking excitement among fans and media alike. However, the dream of a fairytale run to the title now appears increasingly distant given the team’s current form.
Hamilton, who has struggled to adjust to the SF-25, remains upbeat but clearly frustrated. Ferrari’s inability to provide a competitive car in the early stages of the season has left both him and teammate Charles Leclerc trailing in the championship standings. With rivals like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris already securing strong results, Ferrari is under mounting pressure to deliver improvements quickly.
Still, Vasseur remains committed to a methodical and data-driven approach. “We cannot afford to be reactive,” he explained. “If we chase performance blindly without solving the core issues, we risk creating new problems. Our focus is on long-term gains, not short-term fixes.”
The upgrades, which are expected to arrive in phases over the next few races, aim to address key weaknesses in aerodynamics and tire management. However, engineers are wary of introducing too many changes too quickly, which could destabilize the car further. Instead, the team is prioritizing small, incremental adjustments that can be properly tested and validated.
While Vasseur’s remarks may be disappointing to fans hoping for an immediate turnaround, they reflect a more realistic assessment of Ferrari’s position in the current competitive landscape. The 2025 season has seen a tightening of the field, with several teams—including McLaren, Aston Martin, and even Alpine—making significant strides over the winter.
As the F1 circus heads to Bahrain, Ferrari’s focus will be on consistency and maximizing the performance of the current package, even as they work tirelessly behind the scenes to develop new parts. For Hamilton and Leclerc, the road to victory remains steep, but not impossible. With two highly talented drivers and one of the sport’s most iconic teams behind them, all hope is not lost.
Still, as Vasseur made clear, fans and drivers alike should brace for a gradual recovery—rather than a miraculous return to dominance.
