The 2025 Formula 1 season began with so much fanfare at Maranello.
But the early returns have not been what Ferrari hoped for.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for the 2025 campaign injected new life into the legendary team, and Hamilton’s win in the F1 Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix seemed to be the start of something big for the Scuderia. But those dreams were dashed the next day, as both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified after finishing inside the points at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Now, as the grid heads to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix Ferrari find themselves in unfamiliar territory: Tied with Williams with 17 points in the Constructors’ Championship, and sitting fifth in the standings after tiebreakers are applied.
The last time Ferrari was this far down the table after two race weekends? That came back in 2009 when they finished outside the points in both the Australian Grand Prix and the Malaysian Grand Prix to open the year.
By the time the season ended, Ferrari had climbed to fourth in the standings.
The team hopes to see the “full potential” of the SF-25 this weekend in Japan.
“The Suzuka Circuit is particularly demanding for both the cars and the drivers, who nonetheless relish the challenge of its unique and iconic corners,” said Team Principal Frederic Vasseur in Ferrari’s media preview. “As for everyone in the team, now more than ever, we must focus on ourselves with the goal of enabling Charles and Lewis to consistently exploit the full potential of the SF-25, because so far we have only managed to do that on Fridays and during the Sprint in China.
“Formula 1 is all about the details from race weekend preparation in the factory, to execution on track while adapting to changing conditions during the race. Once we have succeeded in doing that, then we will have a clearer idea of where we stand.”
Suzuka proved fertile ground for the Scuderia a season ago, as Ferrari locked out the second row in the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz Jr., now with Williams, finished third ahead of Leclerc, who crossed the line fourth.
That may offer some hope that Ferrari indeed sees the full potential of the SF-25 this weekend in Japan.
