Ferrari entered the 2025 Formula One season with some of the highest expectations in modern team history. The arrival of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc created belief that Maranello could finally return to championship contention. With a proven race winner and an established team leader, Ferrari aimed to challenge McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes across a full campaign. After a 2024 in which Ferrari had shown the pace to fight until the final race for the Constructors’ Championship, expectations for the 2025 season were inevitably high heading into Abu Dhabi, challenging for wins was in 2025 was expected.
Instead, the season unfolded as one of frustration and underachievement. Ferrari finished fourth in the Constructors Championship and failed to secure a single Grand Prix victory. While the numbers show consistency, they also highlight a lack of cutting edge at the front.
Expectations Coming Into the Season
Pre season momentum centred on Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. The partnership with Leclerc looked formidable on paper. Ferrari spoke openly about fighting for wins and remaining in the title conversation deep into the year.
Early testing suggested a competitive baseline, but once racing began it became clear that Ferrari lacked the adaptability and race execution required to control weekends. As rivals improved, Ferrari often stood still.
Lewis Hamilton’s First Ferrari Campaign
Lewis Hamilton finished his debut Ferrari season sixth in the drivers standings with 156 points. Across 24 Grand Prix races he scored 135 points, finished inside the top 10 nineteen times and recorded one fastest lap. He did not score a race win, podium or pole position and recorded two DNFs.
Sprint weekends provided some relief. Hamilton scored 21 sprint points, including one sprint win, two sprint podiums and one sprint pole. These results showed flashes of his ability when the car suited him and sessions were short and aggressive.
Despite moments of competitiveness, Hamilton struggled for confidence in the SF-25. He regularly spoke about difficulty finding balance, especially in mixed conditions. Several races unravelled due to tyre behaviour or strategic hesitation.
After the season Hamilton admitted that the transition was harder than expected. He described the year as one of the toughest of his career and said the team needed to improve communication and reaction speed. However, he reaffirmed his commitment to the long term Ferrari project.
Charles Leclerc’s 2025 Performance
Charles Leclerc delivered Ferrari’s strongest results in 2025. He finished fifth in the championship with 242 points. From 24 Grands Prix he scored 225 points, achieved seven podium finishes and claimed one pole position. He recorded twenty top 10 finishes and one fastest lap, with two DNFs.
Leclerc consistently maximised what the car offered. He often qualified well and placed Ferrari in positions where podiums were possible. However, race pace and strategy regularly limited his ability to convert opportunities into wins.
Sprint events were less productive. Leclerc scored 17 sprint points, with four top 10 finishes but no sprint podiums or wins. While competitive, he lacked the explosive results needed to offset lost ground in Grands Prix.
Leclerc expressed frustration after the season. He acknowledged that Ferrari understood its weaknesses but admitted progress came too slowly. He also pointed to operational errors that cost the team crucial points throughout the year.
Ferrari’s Race Execution Problems
Ferrari’s biggest weakness in 2025 was execution. The team often looked competitive on Fridays and Saturdays, only to lose ground on Sundays. Strategy calls in changing conditions proved costly. Hesitation during tyre switches repeatedly dropped drivers into traffic.
Wet races exposed decision making flaws, while high degradation circuits revealed setup limitations. Ferrari struggled to adapt quickly when conditions shifted, unlike McLaren and Red Bull who thrived under pressure.
These issues compounded over the season and prevented Ferrari from building momentum.
Team Performance and Constructors Outcome
Ferrari finished fourth in the Constructors Championship with 398 points. Across 24 races the team scored 360 Grand Prix points and 38 sprint points. Ferrari recorded zero Grand Prix wins, seven podiums and one pole position. The team placed both cars inside the top 10 on 39 occasions and recorded four DNFs.
Sprint weekends brought limited success. Ferrari claimed one sprint win, two sprint podiums and one sprint pole, but failed to turn those moments into consistent advantage.
Finishing behind McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes fell well short of expectations and placed further pressure on team leadership.
Leclerc’s Post Season Perspective on Ferrari’s Future
After the final race, Leclerc spoke openly about the challenge ahead and the reset that awaits Ferrari in 2026.
“Expectations for 2026 must be taken step by step, without assuming they will immediately change things. This time I have none: it’s a blank slate, we don’t know where to start or where the others will be.”
His words reflected realism rather than pessimism. Leclerc acknowledged that the upcoming regulation change removes guarantees. Ferrari’s advantage or disadvantage remains unknown.
He followed with a stronger message about the stakes involved.
“It’s such a big change, a huge opportunity to show what Ferrari is capable of. It’s the moment of truth: now or never. I really hope we start this new era on the right foot, because it’s important for the next four years.”
Those comments underline the pressure Ferrari faces. Leclerc sees 2026 not as another step, but as a defining moment for the team’s future.
Closing Thoughts
Ferrari’s 2025 Formula One season promised a title challenge and delivered a reality check. The Hamilton Leclerc pairing produced consistency but not dominance. Zero race wins, fourth place in the Constructors Championship and repeated operational mistakes defined the year.
The data is clear. Ferrari remained competitive but not decisive. The season exposed weaknesses rather than hiding them.
With major regulation changes approaching, Ferrari now faces a defining period. The lessons of 2025 must translate into progress. Otherwise, the wait for a return to the top will continue.
