Ferrari Boss Dodges Leclerc's Ferrari Amb...

Ferrari Boss Dodges Leclerc’s Ferrari Amb…read more

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has chosen to remain tight-lipped about the Scuderia’s future upgrade plans following Charles Leclerc’s podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix. Vasseur’s cautious stance stems from a desire to avoid generating what he described as “excessive expectations,” especially among Ferrari’s passionate fanbase in Italy.

Leclerc managed to capitalize on a rare misjudgment by Max Verstappen during a safety car restart at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, overtaking the Red Bull driver before Verstappen collided with George Russell. The Monegasque driver’s performance allowed him to secure third place and helped Ferrari achieve consecutive podiums for the first time in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Leclerc had also finished second in his home race in Monaco, with teammate Lewis Hamilton taking fifth on that occasion.

Despite this momentum, Ferrari continues to struggle in the constructors’ standings. After finishing as runners-up to McLaren by just 14 points in the 2024 championship, the Italian team now finds themselves 197 points behind the Woking-based outfit. McLaren leads the current standings with 362 points, while Ferrari has accumulated just 165.

Leclerc remains Ferrari’s top performer, having collected 94 points so far, compared to Hamilton’s 71. In Spain, Ferrari even issued team orders for Hamilton to let Leclerc through on Lap 10, as the seven-time world champion was slowing his teammate’s progress. Hamilton would go on to finish sixth, partly due to Verstappen’s time penalty for his collision with Russell.

Amid growing speculation about potential upgrades to improve the SF-25 car, Vasseur declined to share specific details. According to a report by Auto Motor und Sport, he evaded questions about the timing and scope of Ferrari’s technical developments. His main concern, it seems, is managing public expectations. Vasseur confirmed only that Ferrari does intend to bring upgrades, though he stressed that not all modifications will be immediately noticeable. The focus for now is more on mechanical than aerodynamic improvements.

One significant development in Ferrari’s pipeline is a rear suspension upgrade, which is expected to debut at the Austrian Grand Prix. Engineers at Maranello hope that this change will enhance the SF-25’s handling characteristics and allow both drivers—especially Hamilton—to extract better performance. A key target is to get the car working more effectively with the Pirelli tires, particularly in bringing them into the optimal operating temperature range more quickly.

As the 2025 season progresses, Ferrari remains under pressure to close the gap to McLaren and Red Bull. The current standings reflect McLaren’s dominance, with Oscar Piastri leading the Drivers’ Championship on 186 points, closely followed by teammate Lando Norris on 176. Verstappen sits third with 137, followed by Russell on 111. Leclerc and Hamilton round out the top six, highlighting Ferrari’s need to find consistent performance gains if they are to challenge for victories in the latter half of the season.

While optimism remains within the team, Vasseur’s measured communication signals a careful, calculated approach to Ferrari’s recovery efforts.