BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Hit by Another Setback as Ferrari Downgrades SF-25 U…read more
New Lewis Hamilton Setback as Ferrari Scales Back SF-25 Upgrade for Imola
Lewis Hamilton’s challenging start with Ferrari has taken a fresh hit, with the team confirming it will bring only a minor update to the SF-25 for the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Originally expected to deliver a major performance upgrade at Imola, Ferrari has now scaled back those plans, citing a need for more development time.
Team boss Fred Vasseur described the incoming changes as a “small step” far from the substantial improvement many inside and outside the team had hoped for. The decision comes at a tense time, as both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have voiced growing frustration over the car’s inconsistency and lack of competitiveness.
The SF-25 has struggled to keep up with the likes of Red Bull, McLaren, and even Hamilton’s former team, Mercedes. That struggle continued in Miami, where Hamilton managed a promising third-place finish in the Sprint but failed to make it past Q2 in qualifying and ended the main race in 8th. Leclerc fared slightly better, finishing 7th, but both drivers were left dissatisfied.
Hamilton, in particular, was vocal over the team radio throughout the race, citing poor car performance and miscommunication with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami. Speaking after the race, he told reporters, “We’ve lost performance since China. It’s there — we just can’t tap into it. Something’s holding us back.”
He added, “This car has potential, I really believe that. Once we solve a few core issues, we can fight the Mercedes and Red Bulls again — but we need that fix sooner rather than later.”
Ferrari had pinned hopes on Imola as a key moment to turn the tide of their 2025 campaign. But the news of a reduced upgrade package is a setback for a team already feeling the pressure to deliver, especially with a high-profile signing like Hamilton growing visibly impatient.
With the European stretch of the season now underway, Ferrari must accelerate development to stay competitive or risk watching their championship hopes slip away yet again.
