As the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds, Ferrari's star drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, are already looking ahead to crucial upgrades for their SF-25 car. Despite having one of the most talented driver line-ups in the sport, the team has struggled to find its footing early in the season, consistently lagging behind competitors like McLaren and Red Bull.
This weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Leclerc and Hamilton qualified in P4 and P8, respectively, a performance that has left both drivers eager for improvements. "It's just that we are not fast enough and we don't have enough grip to match what McLaren and Red Bull are doing in corners," Leclerc stated in a post-qualifying interview. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about the upcoming upgrades. "Hopefully with the upgrades that we have during the season, it will help us to close the gaps to the guys in front," he added.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, echoed Leclerc's sentiments but was more self-critical about his own performance. "I think Charles did a great lap today, so really, really well done to him. I think maybe he outperformed the car a little bit, but it was a great lap. From my side, I didn't get everything that was needed in the car, but yeah, we need to upgrade for sure," he said.
Ferrari's struggles this season can be traced back to significant changes made over the off-season, including a switch to a pull-rod front suspension layout. Technical director Loic Serra noted that the team had taken the previous push-rod operated format to its maximum. However, both drivers feel that the SF-25 is still missing overall aerodynamic load, which has hindered their performance on the track.
Leclerc qualified fourth for the Japanese Grand Prix, but he believes the team is still behind Mercedes in terms of actual pace. "I think we are even a bit behind Mercedes in terms of actual pace, so we'll see. But on race pace, I've done quite a lot of changes over the weekend," he explained. "I'm in a very different place compared to the beginning of the season and I feel a lot more at ease with the car, so I hope it can surprise us in a good way."
Despite the underwhelming start to the season, which has seen Ferrari only capture 17 points through two races and a sprint race, the drivers remain hopeful that the Maranello factory can deliver the necessary upgrades. Both Leclerc and Hamilton are counting on these enhancements to elevate their performance and bring them closer to the front of the grid.
Leclerc has been working on his set-up changes throughout the weekend in Japan, which he believes have made him feel more comfortable in the car. However, he cautioned that the performance gains from these changes have been minimal. "I'm finding answers on what I need, which is good already, but that's not unlocking so much performance. I can be at 100% of the car more often, that's for sure - this will give me the confidence that I need going forward in the season," he said.
Hamilton, meanwhile, revealed that the team had to be more conservative with ride heights at Suzuka due to the aftermath of their disqualification in China, which was enforced due to plank wear. "Yes, we are higher than what we would like, but I don't know if everyone is in the same boat in that respect," he said. "But particularly after the last race, we're a bit higher than we would want to be. That's usually the knock-on effect from the weekend like we had before."
Leclerc refuted suggestions that the car's performance issues were merely due to ride-height sensitivity, instead attributing the struggles to a lack of aerodynamic load. GPS analysis of Leclerc's fastest qualifying lap compared to the pole time suggests that the Ferrari struggles to stabilize the rear end out of corners, leading to a loss of exit traction.
As the race day approaches, Hamilton is optimistic about the possibility of rain, which could level the playing field. "I genuinely love the rain so I hope it comes tomorrow after a qualifying like that," he said. The weather could play a crucial role in the race, potentially allowing Ferrari to capitalize on any missteps from their competitors.
Looking ahead, the team is focused on making the necessary adjustments to improve their performance. Hamilton and Leclerc both believe that the upcoming races beyond the current triple-header will be critical for adding downforce to the SF-25 and regaining their competitive edge. The duo's hopes rest on the engineering team's ability to deliver effective upgrades that can transform their fortunes this season.
As the 2025 season continues, fans of Scuderia Ferrari will be watching closely to see if the team can recover from its rocky start and reclaim its position as a top contender in Formula 1. With Hamilton and Leclerc at the wheel, there is always the potential for a turnaround, and the excitement surrounding the upcoming upgrades adds an extra layer of anticipation to the unfolding season.
