Ferrari Boss Explained:Ferrari is taking McLaren’s advantage with a…read more
Ferrari’s Formula 1 team principal, Fred Vasseur, has maintained that the team’s title aspirations are still alive, despite a challenging start to the 2025 season. He expressed that McLaren’s current advantage in the standings should be viewed with caution, noting that the situation could change as the season progresses.
At the Chinese Grand Prix, Ferrari’s performance was disappointing, with both cars ultimately being disqualified after a difficult race. This came after a promising start to the weekend where Ferrari had hoped the potential of their SF-25 car would shine through, despite a modest five-point finish in Australia.
Lewis Hamilton delivered Ferrari’s first major success of the weekend by winning the Sprint race, having secured pole position. However, Ferrari’s performance slipped as the weekend continued, and they struggled to keep up with their rivals. In the race itself, Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc were unable to improve on their third-row starting positions, which compounded Ferrari’s frustration. To add to the disappointment, both cars were disqualified after post-race checks, further souring their weekend in Shanghai.
Despite these setbacks, Vasseur emphasized that there were still positives to take from the weekend. “We had a lot of positives, starting with Lewis’ pole and victory, and Charles’ race pace,” he said. However, Vasseur acknowledged that understanding the reasons behind their pace fluctuations was still a challenge, particularly in qualifying and during the race. He highlighted the team’s ongoing struggle to extract the best from the SF-25, stressing the need for further improvement in these areas.
Vasseur also admitted that he was still grappling with a clear understanding of the car’s full potential, pointing to the inconsistent performances over the opening rounds. He referenced the weekend in Melbourne, where the team showed promise in practice, only to encounter difficulties later in the event. “I feel we’re not yet getting the best out of the car,” he confessed, though he remained optimistic, especially about Leclerc’s strong performance in the race.
Regarding McLaren’s current form, which has seen them rise to the top of the standings with consecutive wins, including a 1-2 finish in China, Vasseur downplayed the idea that McLaren is now unbeatable. He reminded the press that Red Bull had a similar advantage at the start of the 2024 season, securing a 1-2 finish in the first two races, yet still went on to lose the Constructors’ title. “If we look back at the second race last year, you would probably have asked me, ‘Do you think Red Bull will be champions in June?’” Vasseur said.
He cautioned against jumping to conclusions too early, stressing that while McLaren has made significant progress, it’s still too soon to determine the final outcome of the championship. “They are strong, but it’s not the end of the championship yet,” he concluded.
