F1 NEWS TODAY: Current F1-2025 Drivers’ Championship standings after the Hungarian GP …. read more
Leclerc and Hamilton Lag Behind in Title Race as Ferrari Struggles to Keep Pace
By Hugo Harvey – Charles Leclerc/Lewis Hamilton & Scuderia Ferrari HP Fanpage
The 2025 Formula 1 season continues to challenge Scuderia Ferrari and its star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, as the team finds itself increasingly off the pace in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship battles. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Leclerc sits fifth in the standings with 151 points, while Hamilton is a distant sixth with just 109 points – a considerable gap from the title contenders.
The Hungarian GP was another missed opportunity for Ferrari. While the race itself was relatively clean and incident-free for both drivers, the red cars once again lacked the outright pace to challenge for the podium. Leclerc finished P6 and Hamilton P8, a disappointing outcome given their expectations heading into the weekend.
The championship leaderboard tells the story of a season slipping out of Ferrari’s grasp. Oscar Piastri continues his phenomenal campaign, leading the Drivers’ Championship with 284 points. Lando Norris is close behind on 275, making it a strong showing for McLaren. Defending champion Max Verstappen has seen a significant drop-off, currently third with 187 points, but still comfortably ahead of Ferrari’s leading contender, Leclerc.
Hamilton’s sixth-place standing further emphasizes the Italian team’s woes. The seven-time world champion, in his debut year with Ferrari, has endured a string of underwhelming results. Despite glimpses of brilliance – including a stunning pole position at Silverstone – Hamilton has struggled with consistency, tire degradation issues, and a car that simply isn’t on the same level as McLaren or even Mercedes on race day.
Speaking after the Hungarian GP, Hamilton didn’t mince words: “We’re not where we need to be. The car has potential, but we’ve not unlocked it. We keep working hard, but it’s not translating into results.”
Leclerc echoed the sentiment, admitting Ferrari’s current package is falling short. “P6 is not what we aim for. The upgrades we brought earlier in the season helped a bit, but now others have stepped up. We need something more – urgently.”
The pressure is mounting at Maranello. Ferrari’s 2025 challenger, the SF-25, initially showed promise with strong testing times and a solid opening stint of the season. However, development appears to have stalled while rivals have surged ahead. The recent updates have failed to significantly improve balance or tire management – both critical weaknesses that continue to plague the team.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur remains optimistic but acknowledged that the title fight is out of reach for now. “Our focus must shift to race-by-race improvements and preparing for 2026. There’s still pride and positions to fight for this season, but we must be realistic.”
With just nine rounds remaining, Ferrari’s chances of winning the championship are slim. Yet, both Leclerc and Hamilton remain determined to end the year on a high. Podiums – or perhaps even a long-awaited win – remain within reach, but only if the team can quickly overcome the aerodynamic and mechanical shortcomings that have derailed their campaign.
As the F1 circus heads next to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, all eyes will be on Ferrari. Can they stop the slide and reclaim their place at the front, or will the 2025 season go down as another missed opportunity for the sport’s most iconic team?
One thing is clear – time is running out.
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