Ferrari's 2025 Season: Setup Misstep and Hamilton's Podium Drought
Ferrari's 2025 season was derailed by a failed suspension setup change, leading to a winless campaign and a drop to fourth in the standings. Lewis Hamilton endured a podium-less debut year with the team, while strategic errors and a difficult-to-drive car compounded their frustrations.
Ferrari's highly anticipated 2025 season, buoyed by the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, ended in frustration as a critical suspension setup change backfired, leaving the team winless and dropping to fourth in the Constructors' standings. Hamilton failed to secure a single podium finish in his debut year with the Scuderia, highlighting a season of missed opportunities and strategic missteps.
Why it matters:
The failure to build on a strong 2024 campaign, where Ferrari narrowly missed the Constructors' title, represents a significant setback. A star-studded driver lineup with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc was expected to challenge for championships, but fundamental car issues and operational errors prevented any title challenge, raising questions about the team's development direction and race management.
The details:
- The team's pivotal mistake was a preseason suspension tweak intended to create a more stable aerodynamic platform. Instead, it made the SF-25 uncompetitive against pacesetters like McLaren and difficult to drive, particularly in damp conditions.
- A major blow came at the Chinese Grand Prix, where both cars were disqualified. Hamilton was excluded for excessive plank wear after winning the Sprint, forcing the team to raise the car's ride height for subsequent races and sacrificing crucial performance.
- Driver performance diverged significantly. While Leclerc managed consecutive podiums in Monaco and Spain, Hamilton struggled to maximize the car's potential over a single lap in qualifying and went the entire season without a podium—a first in his career.
- Strategic execution was lacking. In Miami, Hamilton was stuck behind Leclerc on fresher tires, losing the window to attack rival Kimi Antonelli. A botched position swap attempt on the final lap in Azerbaijan cost both drivers places.
What's next:
With competitive results fading, Ferrari shifted focus mid-season towards the 2026 technical regulations, hoping for a reset. The new rules present an opportunity, but the 2025 season underscores that raw speed from a star lineup is insufficient without a consistently competitive car and sharp operational execution. The pressure is on to deliver a coherent package that can finally convert potential into consistent championship contention.