Forza Failures: What is Causing Ferrari’s Lack of Performance?

One could say that Ferrari is having one of its worst-performing seasons in years, with no current wins halfway through the year and only five podium finishes. However, even with these lackluster results, the Italian team remains second in the team standings.

Ferrari has not had a memorable season in 2025, and many speculate on what could be the root of the team’s lack of success. Courtesy of Scuderia Ferrari.

In the 2024 season, the team secured five wins between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz and was in a tight race with McLaren for the Constructors’ title. While the papaya team won in the end, it came down to the final race of the season.

Ferrari may not have been completely dominant last season, but it has been a huge step down in race-by-race performance when compared to the current year. With the summer break having begun, it begs the question of whether or not Ferrari will be able to bounce back in the 2025 season.

Things seemed to be improving at the Hungarian Grand Prix when Leclerc claimed the team’s first pole position of the season in qualifying. However, he wasn’t able to convert it into a win, slipping back into fourth by the end of the race.

Leclerc wasn’t able to clinch a win despite his success in qualifying. Courtesy of Sports.inquirer.net.

Both drivers have expressed their frustrations this past year, claiming that there needed to be big developments made to the SF-25 car. While Team Principal Fred Vasseur hasn’t shared too many details about what specifically needs improvement, it’s clear to both fans and the team that something needs to change.

The car in Hungary may have been able to perform over a one-lap distance, but it’s not enough to deliver wins in a 2-hour race. With both drivers slotted to continue with the team into 2026, and possibly beyond, the team can focus on improving the car to best suit both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to get the utmost performance out of both assets.

Even with the team in a good spot in the standings, Mercedes and Red Bull pose a serious threat if Ferrari cannot perform in the back half of the season. If new upgrades don’t work by the time racing starts up again at the end of August, it may be a season to forget for the Italian team.

Despite the frustrating results in past races, Vasseur doesn’t seem to be letting it deter him or the rest of the team from moving forward. The team’s boss explained that this process is part of what makes a good team in the future, and it will take time to get where they want to be.

Vasseur believes the team can come back from its mistakes this season, and has even been announced to extend his time with Ferrari on a multi-year deal. Courtesy of Formula1.com.

Since Vasseur only joined Ferrari in January 2023, it’s understandable for the team not to be performing at its utmost potential, as rebuilding can sometimes take years. It isn’t a new concept in the sports world, but the results are far from what Ferrari fans are used to seeing.

As the days get closer to the Dutch Grand Prix, there is much to expect from all of the teams. In the past, many teams have bounced back in impressive ways following the summer break. For example, McLaren had a very rough start in 2023, but had a massive turnaround by the end of the season. 

There is always room for improvement, and with the new regulations in 2026, many teams will have the opportunity to show what they are capable of. 

Edited by Reese Dlabach