This year, the Scuderia Ferrari is faced with a major dilemma: continue to develop the SF-25, or redirect its resources towards the 2026 single-seater. Of course, the Formula 1 is still a long way off, but the lacklustre results from the first three races are already causing serious concern in Maranello.
The 2025 season off to a bad start
After a fierce battle for the title in 2024, Ferrari is in dire straits. With only 35 points on the counterThe Italian team is already in fourth place in the constructors' championship. McLaren, solidly in the lead, has a total of 111 points. Mercedes has a 40-point lead, and even Red Bull - led by Max Verstappen alone - has 24 points more than Ferrari.
The recent Chinese Grand Prix was a real blow: the disqualification of Charles Leclerc's Ferrari for technical non-conformity caused the team to fall further in the standings. These recurring problems testify to an aggressive performance strategy, which doesn't seem to be paying off so far.
Leclerc struggles, Hamilton in doubt
In Bahrain, Charles Leclerc still managed to qualify in second place after a Mercedes penalty, while Lewis Hamilton had to make do with a modest ninth place. The Monegasque once again demonstrated his talent by making the most of a single-seater that didn't seem to be up to the level of the best. As for Hamilton, who arrived at Ferrari with the ambition of winning an eighth world title, he discovered just how difficult it is to win when the car doesn't live up to his expectations.
While Hamilton's Sprint win in Shanghai remains a source of satisfaction, the team has not tasted the podium for three races. Never before has Ferrari gone so many races without a trophy, a sign that the SF-25 is seriously lagging behind its rivals.
Evolutions that work, but are insufficient
Despite a first package of recently introduced evolutionsHowever, the SF-25 continues to lag behind the formidable McLaren and Mercedes, who are also constantly making improvements. For engineer Luigi Mazzola, formerly of the Scuderia, the priority should be to solve the car's balance problems, a deep-seated "evil" that requires more than just aero or engine upgrades.
Behind the scenes at Maranello, there are whispers that a decision will be taken in the coming weeks, probably after the last two Grands Prix in April. If Ferrari can't close the gap on McLaren and Mercedes by then, the team may well have to turn the page on the SF-25 and concentrate fully on the single-seater of 2026, a season marked by a new technical revolution. The example of 2014, when Mercedes took a decisive lead thanks to changes in regulations, is still fresh in everyone's mind.
2026, a daring but necessary gamble?
It may seem premature to end title hopes now, but if Ferrari doesn't get its act together soon, Allocating too many resources to SF-25 could doom the 2026 ambitions. On the contrary, an early end to current development would enable us to build a competitive car as soon as the new regulations are introduced.
For Frederic Vasseur and the Scuderia, the next few races will be decisive: a breakthrough in performance could prolong the life of the SF-25, while another failure would precipitate its abandonment.
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