Ferrari ‘shipwrecked’ as ‘serious problem’ discovered in simulator – re…. read more
Ferrari’s much-anticipated start to the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Australian Grand Prix turned into a nightmare after the team reportedly encountered a “serious problem” with their SF-25 challenger following Friday’s practice sessions. The unexpected technical setback, described in some reports as a “shipwreck” for the Scuderia, severely hampered their competitiveness throughout the weekend in Melbourne.
Despite initial signs of promise at Albert Park, Ferrari’s race weekend quickly unraveled. Charles Leclerc, who had topped the timesheets in the second free practice session on Friday, ended up finishing a lowly eighth in Sunday’s rain-affected race, while new teammate Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in 10th, capping off a weekend that fell well short of the team’s expectations.
Leclerc’s FP2 performance on Friday had initially raised hopes within the Ferrari camp. The Monegasque driver managed to set the fastest lap of the session, placing himself ahead of both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. This early pace suggested that Ferrari could be serious contenders not just for pole position but possibly for victory on Sunday.
However, behind the scenes, trouble was brewing. After practice concluded, Ferrari engineers reportedly discovered a significant issue with the SF-25. While specifics of the problem have yet to be fully confirmed, insiders claim that it severely limited Ferrari’s ability to extract performance from the car for the remainder of the weekend. The problem disrupted Ferrari’s planned setup direction and compromised both drivers’ qualifying and race performances.
In Saturday’s crucial qualifying session, Ferrari’s struggles were laid bare. Leclerc and Hamilton could only manage seventh and eighth on the grid, respectively, trailing not only the dominant McLarens but also Yuki Tsunoda’s Racing Bull in fifth and Alex Albon’s impressive Williams in sixth. The result was particularly disheartening given the optimism surrounding Ferrari’s upgrades heading into the new season.
The team’s compromised pace carried over into race day. With intermittent rain showers complicating strategy and tire management, Ferrari were unable to mount any significant challenge to the frontrunners. Both Leclerc and Hamilton spent most of the race battling in the midfield, unable to close the gap to McLaren or the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes. In the end, Leclerc salvaged eighth place, while Hamilton, still adjusting to life at Ferrari after his blockbuster move from Mercedes, could do no better than 10th.
To add to Ferrari’s frustration, the McLaren duo of Norris and Piastri capitalized on their strong qualifying positions to secure a front-row lockout, with Norris going on to claim a well-earned victory. The contrasting fortunes between Ferrari and McLaren at Albert Park were stark and will no doubt raise questions within Maranello about the root causes of the technical gremlins affecting the SF-25.
For Ferrari, this disappointing weekend represents a sharp wake-up call as they bid to challenge for titles in 2025. The early pace shown in practice hinted at potential, but the sudden downturn in form has left the team scrambling for answers ahead of the next round. Whether Ferrari can resolve the underlying issues with the SF-25 in time for the coming races remains to be seen.
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur and the technical department will now face mounting pressure to deliver solutions. With rivals like McLaren and Red Bull already showing strong early-season form, Ferrari can ill afford further setbacks if they want to stay in the championship hunt.
As the paddock turns its attention to the next Grand Prix, Ferrari fans will be hoping that the “serious problem” that scuttled their Australian campaign can be quickly diagnosed and fixed—before their 2025 season risks going adrift altogether.
