Lewis Hamilton Faces Another Setback as Ferrari Scales Down SF-25 U…read more
Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of bouncing back with Ferrari at the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola have taken a hit, as reports suggest the anticipated major upgrade for the SF-25 will now be far less substantial than initially believed.
Earlier this season, sources within the paddock claimed Ferrari was preparing a significant upgrade package for Imola, one that could potentially help close the performance gap to Red Bull and McLaren. However, team principal Fred Vasseur has now confirmed that the update will be more of a “small step” rather than the major development push that had been expected.
This news will come as a disappointment to both Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc. Both drivers have expressed dissatisfaction with the car’s pace in recent races, and the lack of a major upgrade could delay Ferrari’s ability to challenge the front-running teams more consistently.
The Miami Grand Prix weekend was another tough outing for Ferrari. Although Hamilton secured a podium in the Sprint race by finishing third, it was a short-lived moment of optimism. The performance of the SF-25 in qualifying and the main Grand Prix race left much to be desired. Hamilton failed to make it out of Q2 in qualifying and ended up 12th on the grid. Leclerc did slightly better by securing eighth, but neither driver looked capable of challenging the leaders.
During the race itself, Ferrari again struggled to keep pace with Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes. Leclerc finished seventh while Hamilton crossed the line in eighth, but both were clearly frustrated by the car’s limitations. Hamilton, in particular, seemed increasingly agitated over team radio, voicing concerns not only about the car’s speed but also about communication with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami.
After the race, Hamilton addressed the media, including PlanetF1.com, and shared his concerns about the direction the team is heading. “I think this car really does have performance. We’re just not… something’s holding us back at the moment,” he said, suggesting that the SF-25 may have untapped potential that Ferrari has yet to fully unlock.
The seven-time World Champion pointed out that the car’s performance has regressed since the Chinese Grand Prix, where Ferrari looked relatively more competitive. “We’ve lost performance since China. It’s there, it’s just we can’t use it. So we need a fix for that,” he emphasized. Hamilton’s comments underline the frustrations of a driver who came to Ferrari seeking a new challenge and a chance to return to winning ways after a difficult final stretch with Mercedes.
Despite the setback, Hamilton remains cautiously optimistic. He believes that with the right developments and fixes, Ferrari could still return to the front of the grid. “I truly believe that when we fix some of the problems that we have with the car, we’ll be back in the fight with the Mercedes, with the Bulls, and it just can’t come quicker,” he added.
The Imola round was seen as a potential turning point, especially given Ferrari’s past success at home circuits and the symbolic weight of racing on Italian soil. However, with the upgrade package now reduced in scale, expectations will have to be tempered.
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has been under intense scrutiny since it was first announced. As one of the most high-profile moves in recent F1 history, many expected instant progress. But the 2025 season so far has been an uphill battle, and both Hamilton and Ferrari will be looking to turn things around quickly if they want to be contenders again.
In the meantime, the pressure is building on the Scuderia’s technical team to address the car’s shortcomings. Whether it’s aerodynamic inefficiencies, tire degradation, or balance inconsistencies, something is clearly preventing the SF-25 from performing at its full potential.
With a long season still ahead, Ferrari has time to regroup and bring meaningful upgrades later in the year. But for now, the momentum remains with Red Bull and McLaren, and unless Ferrari finds solutions quickly, Hamilton may have to wait longer than expected to challenge for race wins again.
