In the chaotic final laps of the Spanish GP, it was Verstappen and Russell who stole the headlines. Their incident overshadowed some of the stories elsewhere in the field, including that of Lewis Hamilton and his struggles in the SF-25.
Not for the first time in 2025, the 7-time Champion did not feel comfortable in his Ferrari challenger.
Hamilton was slower than teammate Charles Leclerc for most of the race, with the Monegasque benefiting from an extra set of fresh tyres – having sacrificed one of his final laps in Q3.
When reflecting on his race, Hamilton made no secret of his discomfort in the car.
The British driver could provide no explanation for his lack of pace, seemingly pessimistic about a change in fortunes.
Hamilton without answers after “terrible” race in Spain
Most analysts anticipated that Ferrari would challenge McLaren for this year’s title during pre-season.
Their strong finish to the 2024 campaign put the Scuderia in a good position to put pressure on the reigning constructors Champions.
Of course, this is yet to materialise, with the Maranello-based operation failing to carry their momentum into 2025.
In terms of peak performance, Ferrari are still a few tenths slower than Red Bull – whilst suffering an even bigger deficit to McLaren.
Beyond this, the SF-25’s characteristics are making it a headache for their drivers – especially Lewis Hamilton.
Aside from a few outliers in the China Sprint or Imola GP, the #44 car is generally lagging behind Leclerc’s #16 machine.
Considering the excitement surrounding Hamilton’s move to the Scuderia, his form is difficult to stomach.
The 40-year-old said as much after the chequered flag in Barcelona:
“Well, what do you want me to say?” he said to Sky Sports.
“I’ve had a really bad day and have nothing to say. It was a difficult day.
“There’s nothing else to add to it, it was terrible.
“There’s no point explaining it – it’s not your fault, I just don’t know what to say…
“I have no idea why it was so bad. That was the worst race I’ve ever experienced balance-wise.”
Ferrari try to gather some momentum
Throughout the year, team principal Fred Vasseur has been consistent in his approach with the SF-25.
Other outfits, especially those in the midfield, are aggressively prioritising the 2026 season and regulation changes.
The likes of Williams and Aston Martin see next year as a crucial chance to climb the field – with the cost opportunity of this season being relatively low.
Vasseur, however, has no plans on abandoning this year’s package – despite their early struggles.
The Frenchman is convinced that, whilst falling short of expectations, the SF-25 can become a genuine threat to McLaren if developed.
Ferrari will aim for a similar recovery to last season, when upgrades at the Italian GP corrected their ineffective package in Spain.
Whether this is the correct approach remains to be seen.
Unlike last year, 2025 is the final year of these regulations – meaning time is almost up to make decisive gains.
In the budget cap era of Formula 1, with a more level playing field providing greater upward mobility for midfield teams, Ferrari could leave themselves vulnerable by overexerting themselves on this season’s development.
Their lofty position in the team standings (currently 2nd) also greatly restricts their wind tunnel usage.
With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc effectively out of the title race already, it will be intriguing to observe whether their continued investment in the SF-25 pays dividends.
Main photo: Ferrari media gallery
