BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Summoned for FIA Car Disp…read more
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Summoned for FIA Car Display Ahead of Monaco Grand Prix
Routine Procedure Offers Media Glimpse of SF-25 as Ferrari Hopes for Monaco Miracle
As anticipation swells for this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, the FIA has announced that Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari SF-25 has been selected for its official pre-race car presentation. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s car will be displayed alongside Oscar Piastri’s McLaren and Carlos Sainz’s Williams, as part of the governing body’s standard inspection and media access routine.
The car display is a long-established procedure in Formula 1, typically conducted hours before lights out. It allows accredited media, team representatives, and technical staff a closer look at select cars and any recent upgrades made to them. The FIA stressed that this is a purely procedural measure and does not imply any form of technical inquiry or rule breach. Each car will be presented with a team technical representative on hand to explain new components or modifications, but no drivers are required to attend.
Ferrari’s decision to offer Hamilton’s SF-25 for the display was in line with FIA regulations, which mandate that the version of the car with the latest updates be showcased. The Italian team introduced new aerodynamic components during the previous round at Imola, hoping to address the car’s weaknesses in cornering stability and downforce balance. While the upgrades showed incremental gains—Hamilton finished a respectable fourth—Ferrari remains winless so far in the 2025 season.
With the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo providing a stark contrast to the intense scrutiny teams face, Ferrari enters the race weekend under pressure. Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have voiced concerns about the SF-25’s handling in low-speed corners, a critical area on a circuit that features tight chicanes, hairpins, and virtually no high-speed straights. The team’s struggles in this department could significantly limit their ability to qualify at the front or challenge for a podium.
The FIA also addressed concerns about weather disruptions. With overcast skies and light rain predicted in the hours leading up to the race, officials confirmed that the car presentation would adapt accordingly. “Five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the car display, all teams will be notified if the procedure must take place inside the designated garage area,” an official FIA statement read. Should rain begin during the display, teams will be required to leave the cars in place and use portable awnings for cover.
Adding further intrigue to today’s race, the FIA has introduced a mandatory two-stop strategy for all drivers—a significant departure from recent Monaco Grands Prix, which have been criticized for becoming “processional” with minimal overtaking or variation. The new rule aims to promote strategy diversity and increase the chances of on-track action, forcing teams to think more creatively about tire usage, pit windows, and track position.
However, not all in the paddock are convinced. Several drivers, including championship leader Max Verstappen, have voiced concerns that teams could exploit the regulation by pitting under Virtual Safety Car or Safety Car periods purely for tactical gains. “If everyone just pits twice behind a Safety Car, you haven’t solved anything,” Verstappen remarked during a press conference.
For Lewis Hamilton, who has not won in Monaco since 2019, the challenge today is multifaceted: a car with proven weaknesses on this particular circuit, strategic uncertainty due to new regulations, and the ever-present threat of rain. While the FIA’s car presentation offers a rare glimpse into the engineering of Ferrari’s 2025 contender, it also underscores the pressure the team is under to deliver results amid rising expectations.
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur remains optimistic, stating, “We’ve made progress, no doubt, but Monaco is always a tough place to judge performance. Qualifying will be key, and we have two of the best drivers on the grid. We’re focused.”
As the Monaco Grand Prix draws near, all eyes will be on the red cars from Maranello—particularly the #44 of Lewis Hamilton. Whether through strategic brilliance, mechanical evolution, or sheer racing instinct, Ferrari will be hoping to break their winless streak and ignite their 2025 campaign on one of the sport’s most prestigious stages.
