Alexandre
The Scuderia Ferrari began the Australian Grand Prix 2025 with high hopes, all the more so as the team featured a brand-new driver duo: Charles Leclerca long-standing partnership, and Lewis Hamiltona newcomer to the Reds after a long career with Mercedes. However, at the end of a crazy race in Melbourne marked by rain, interruptions and multiple spin-outs, the Italian team leaves with just 5 points. This is quite simply his worst record in recent seasons in the first round of the German championship. Formula 1.
Sainz out of the race on the first lap, Leclerc and Hamilton limit the damage
Right from the start (or almost, as the race had two formation laps and a delay due to an accident involving Isack Hadjar), the Ferraris seemed to be in trouble on the soggy track. Charles Leclerc, who qualified eighth, showed his opportunism by gaining a few places on the first lap to move up to fifth position. But the joy was soon dampened by a double scare: Australian Jack Doohan caused the safety car to come out, then Carlos Sainz (now driving for Williams) ended up in the wall at the last corner, underlining the danger of the weather conditions.
The race has gradually become a strategic headache: first on intermediate tires, then a switch to slicks when the track began to dry out, before a final return to intermediate tires due to another downpour in the final laps. In this already complicated scenario, Ferrari had to deal with a number of twists and turns. Charles Leclerc, first of all a victim of water seepage into his cockpit (a problem likely to have come from his water bottle), had to deal with a damp bucket and a lack of visibility. Lewis Hamilton, lacking a sense of direction after his move to Mercedes, had a Grand Prix full of pitfalls, struggling to find grip in the trickiest corners.
In the end, it was Leclerc who saved his honor by finishing eighth, while Hamilton crossed the line in tenth place. In all, the Scuderia took 5 points (4 for Leclerc and 1 for Hamilton).
A disappointing first Grand Prix result
These six small points represent Ferrari's lowest total in a season opener since 2022, when compared with the scores achieved in previous years:
- 2022 : Leclerc 26 pts + Sainz 18 pts = 44 pts
- 2023 : Leclerc 0 pts + Sainz 12 pts = 12 pts
- 2024 : Leclerc 12 pts + Sainz 15 pts = 27 pts
- 2025 : Leclerc 4 pts + Hamilton 1 pt = 5 pts
Despite a few disappointments in the past (notably in 2023), this is the worst start to a Scuderia season for many years.
Apart from the problems encountered by the drivers, there are nevertheless a few signs of potential: top speed seems to be on target, and long stints in mixed conditions have not been catastrophic. But the team needs to work on strategic coherence and on Hamilton's handling of the car, as he recently said: "Switching from Mercedes to Ferrari means radically adapting my driving style.
What's next?
For the Scuderia, there's no time to lose: the season has only just begun, but it will be necessary to bounce back quickly and avoid sinking into a negative spiral. For the time being, and despite the tifosi's desire to see this dream duo shine, the reality is bitter: with just 5 points on the board, the Prancing Horse is off to its worst start in years.