Ferrari refused to accept that they had a problem on their hands with their 2025 Formula 1 car before yet another weekend of struggles at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc struggled on their way to a third consecutive weekend without a podium finish.
Neither of them are inside the top five of the drivers’ championship and results so far have failed to meet expectations set before the campaign.
Ferrari must find some pace and they need it fast. McLaren already have more than three times more points than them.
Hamilton wasn’t happy with Ferrari at the Japanese Grand Prix and wanted more information from his team on the way to an eighth-place finish.
Ferrari have the same car problem as Hamilton’s 2024 Mercedes, as they battle with an SF25 chassis which has a small working window.
READ MORE: Charles Leclerc’s ‘different’ Ferrari attitude shows how much danger their 2025 F1 car faces
Ferrari have had a 2025 F1 car ‘problem’ since pre-season testing
Hamilton’s onboard camera is not a good sign, with plenty of sliding from his SF25 which has been overheating his tyres.
Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz believes that the problem the team has been experiencing since pre-season testing is at the rear of the car,
“For the first time Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton was saying we do have a problem with the car, they’re not specifying what it is,” he said. “We think it’s in the rear of the car, it might be in the rear wing or the gearbox, or the ride height, or the rear suspension.
“Clearly, it’s something that has not only affected them at testing with Lewis Hamilton. [He] wasn’t able to do the long run. It affected them not so much in Australia in the wet.
“They found out in the Grand Prix in China where it didn’t show itself. Now they’re having to live with it until they get a fix probably Miami, I would say.”
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton fans worried Ferrari are stopping him from showing his ‘true pace’ after Japanese Grand Prix comments
Why Lewis Hamilton should be concerned at Ferrari’s lack of pace in 2025
While being slow isn’t the be-all and end-all currently with 21 races left this season, alarm bells may be ringing regarding the Scuderia’s prospects.
They won’t want to lose their momentum heading into the 2026 F1 regulations, which is currently slated to be Hamilton’s second and final year with the team.
He does have an option for 2027, but if their pace fails to improve, he may no longer be interested in continuing his Formula 1 career.
Hamilton’s Ferrari move could be destined to fail, but the rejection of the proposed V10 rule change should assist them.
It’s going to be up to their new team leader to help lead their development in a more positive direction. Expect to see changes in time for the European leg of the campaign.
