Ferrari's 2025 F1 Season: Rear Wing Issues and Driver Frustration

Ferrari drivers feel like 'passengers' in their 2025 F1 car due to rear-end problems, admitting they are behind Red Bull and Mercedes.
By Newsroom | Formula 1, Motorsport |

Underlying Concerns Surface Amidst Team's Struggles

Formula 1's 2025 season has presented a complex landscape for Ferrari, a team historically synonymous with success. Reports indicate a season marked by performance deficits and strategic hurdles, prompting scrutiny of the team's operational capacity and long-term outlook. Questions have arisen regarding the efficacy of their car's design, particularly its rear-end aerodynamics, and the impact of these technical limitations on race day outcomes. Furthermore, statements from key figures suggest internal pressures and a strategic direction that is under examination by both stakeholders and observers.

Quick hits: F1 politics, safety worries and Ferrari's stunning rear end - 1

A Season Defined by Technical and Strategic Setbacks

The 2025 Formula 1 season has seen Ferrari grapple with a series of challenges, impacting their competitive standing and strategic execution. Pre-season testing in Bahrain highlighted novel aerodynamic solutions on the Ferrari car, specifically a rotating rear wing, which drew attention for its unique design aimed at improving airflow. However, the season has also been characterized by an admission from driver Lewis Hamilton that "rear-end issues" have constrained Ferrari's progress. These issues were cited as a contributing factor to his seventh-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, a result compounded by the absence of a safety car, which had been a key element of Ferrari's planned strategy.

Read More: Bahrain F1 Testing: Ferrari fastest, Lando Norris second as season starts

Quick hits: F1 politics, safety worries and Ferrari's stunning rear end - 2

  • Car Performance: Lewis Hamilton has publicly acknowledged that "rear-end issues" have hindered Ferrari's performance. This suggests ongoing technical challenges with the car's design and stability.

  • Strategic Dependence: The Japanese Grand Prix underscored Ferrari's reliance on specific race scenarios, such as the deployment of a safety car, to optimize their strategy. The lack of such an event negatively impacted their race outcome.

  • Competitive Gap: Reports from the latter half of the season, such as after the Singapore Grand Prix, indicated that Ferrari's current pace leaves them trailing rivals Red Bull and Mercedes. This has led Lewis Hamilton to concede that the team is behind its main competitors.

Scrutiny of Ferrari's Technical Innovations and Design Philosophy

Ferrari's approach to car design has come under particular examination. The introduction of a rotating rear wing during pre-season testing in Bahrain was noted for its unconventional nature, appearing to create a greater gap between the top and bottom of the wing, a departure from the traditional "mailbox" opening of F1 rear wings on straights. While this innovation aimed to enhance aerodynamic efficiency, its overall impact on performance and its contribution to the noted "rear-end issues" remain a subject of discussion.

Quick hits: F1 politics, safety worries and Ferrari's stunning rear end - 3

  • Aerodynamic Solutions: The team experimented with a unique rear wing design, observed during pre-season testing.

  • Potential Drawbacks: The effectiveness and consequences of this design choice are implicitly questioned in light of admitted performance limitations.

Internal Pressures and Leadership Narratives

The season has also been marked by public statements from Ferrari leadership that have been interpreted as critical. The chairman, in particular, has been quoted with strong language, such as "'Not now. Not ever'," which has been seen as a stark indication of dissatisfaction with the team's current standing. These pronouncements, alongside observations of a "brutal truth" behind the team's struggles, suggest an environment of intense pressure and a public acknowledgment of shortcomings.

Read More: Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari Struggles: Why He's Not Getting Podium Finishes in 2025

Quick hits: F1 politics, safety worries and Ferrari's stunning rear end - 4

  • Chairman's Statements: Remarks attributed to Ferrari's chairman have conveyed a strong sense of urgency and disappointment.

  • Team Culture: The perception of Ferrari as a "violent" team in its approach to managing shortcomings has been noted.

  • Echoes of Past Issues: Concerns have been raised that the current leadership narrative might echo past patterns of underperformance and internal conflict at Ferrari.

Driver Perspectives on Performance Limitations

Drivers within the Ferrari camp have offered candid assessments of the team's challenges. Charles Leclerc, following the Singapore Grand Prix, described feeling like "passengers to the car," indicating a lack of control and performance feedback. Lewis Hamilton, besides citing rear-end issues, has also pointed to qualifying as a significant weakness for Ferrari. His statements suggest that improving performance on Saturdays is critical for the team to better its overall race results. The need to "fix their qualifying" has been identified as a key area for improvement, with the team and its drivers facing the challenge of turning practice sessions into competitive advantages.

Read More: Formula 1 Bahrain Test Shows Mercedes and McLaren Strong, Red Bull Faces Issues

  • Charles Leclerc's Assessment: He expressed a sense of detachment from the car's performance, feeling like a passive observer rather than an active controller.

  • Lewis Hamilton's Focus: He identified qualifying as a primary weakness, highlighting the need for improvement on Saturdays.

  • Strategic Importance of Qualifying: The team's hopes for better results are seen as potentially hinging on enhancing their performance during qualifying sessions.

Conclusion: Navigating a Complex Season

The 2025 Formula 1 season presents Ferrari with significant challenges, extending beyond the track to encompass team dynamics and strategic direction. Technical limitations, particularly those related to the car's rear-end aerodynamics, appear to be a persistent concern, impacting both driver confidence and strategic execution. Public commentary from leadership underscores the intensity of internal pressures, while driver feedback points to specific areas of weakness, such as qualifying performance. The team's ability to address these multifaceted issues will be crucial in determining their trajectory for the remainder of the season and their future competitiveness.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What problems is Ferrari facing in the 2025 Formula 1 season?
Ferrari is struggling with car performance, especially with rear-end aerodynamic issues. Drivers like Lewis Hamilton have said these problems are limiting the team's progress and making them fall behind rivals like Red Bull and Mercedes.
Q: Why did Lewis Hamilton say Ferrari's strategy failed at the Japanese Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton mentioned that Ferrari's race strategy was planned around a safety car appearing. Since no safety car came out, their strategy did not work as well, affecting their final position.
Q: What did Ferrari drivers say about the team's car performance in 2025?
Charles Leclerc described feeling like a 'passenger' in the car, meaning he had little control over its performance. Lewis Hamilton also admitted that the team's rear-end limitations are a major issue.
Q: Is Ferrari's car design causing problems in the 2025 F1 season?
Reports suggest that Ferrari's car design, particularly its rear aerodynamics and a unique rotating rear wing tested in Bahrain, might be contributing to the 'rear-end issues' drivers are experiencing. The effectiveness of these new designs is being questioned.
Q: What is the mood like within Ferrari's leadership in 2025?
Ferrari's chairman has made strong public statements showing disappointment with the team's results. This suggests there is a lot of pressure on the team to improve quickly, with some describing the team's approach to problems as 'brutal'.
Q: What does Ferrari need to improve for the rest of the 2025 F1 season?
Lewis Hamilton has pointed out that qualifying performance is a big weakness for Ferrari. Improving their speed and consistency on Saturdays is seen as very important for the team to achieve better results in races.