Ferrari’s Crisis: Can They Turn It Around After Hungary?

The Hungarian Grand Prix sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock, marking another dark chapter for Ferrari. What began as an optimistic weekend, with Charles Leclerc securing Ferrari’s first pole position of the season, quickly descended into an unmitigated disaster. Leclerc led the race, demonstrating pace and confidence, but as the laps progressed, it became evident that something had gone horribly wrong. What had seemed like a potential victory for Ferrari instead turned into yet another wasted opportunity and a deeper crisis for the team.

The Collapse of Ferrari’s Strong Start

Leclerc had controlled the race in the opening laps, keeping McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at bay. Ferrari’s strategy seemed solid, and for the first time in a while, the team appeared to be in a strong position. But it all started to fall apart after the second pit stop on lap 40. Ferrari fitted fresh hard tires, and shortly after, disaster struck.

Leclerc began to feel an issue with the car, describing it as undrivable. His lap times deteriorated by nearly 2 seconds per lap, and the performance drop was evident to everyone watching. Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, admitted that something was clearly wrong but that the team couldn’t yet explain what had happened.

“I was wrong about the anger I voiced on the radio,” Leclerc later admitted, acknowledging that the problem was not related to a pit stop or any front-wing issues, but something deeper within the car itself. It was a chassis problem, something that no one had foreseen, and it severely impacted the car’s handling, making it almost impossible for Leclerc to keep up the pace.

Ferrari’s Struggle with Chassis and Performance

As Leclerc battled through the race, he began to express his frustration over the radio. “We’ve lost all competitiveness,” he declared. “You just have to listen to me. I would have found a different way of managing those issues. Now it’s just undrivable.”

Leclerc’s grip on the race slipped away as he was overtaken by McLaren and Mercedes’ George Russell, ultimately finishing 21 seconds behind the race leaders in fourth place. The damage was done. Ferrari’s lead driver was no longer a contender for victory, and the team had lost yet another chance to secure a win.

Vasseur’s comments after the race were equally sobering. The second stint had been difficult, but Ferrari was still in the race until the final laps when everything unraveled. He emphasized the need for a deeper investigation into the chassis, suggesting that the team needed to determine if this was a one-off issue or a deeper, more systemic flaw.

Theories and Speculation: What Went Wrong?

One of the leading theories regarding the cause of Ferrari’s sudden collapse revolves around the car’s plank wear. The plank is a wooden strip fitted under the car to maintain a certain ride height. If the car is too low to the ground, it risks scraping and damaging the plank, which could result in legal penalties.

George Russell, among others, speculated that Ferrari had raised the tire pressure and reduced engine power to avoid excessive plank wear, which ultimately affected the car’s performance. Ferrari had already been disqualified earlier in the season for excessive plank wear in China, and the team was keen to avoid another such incident. However, by adjusting the car’s settings to protect the plank, Ferrari sacrificed grip and stability, contributing to the dramatic loss of pace.

The radio messages from Leclerc during the race further illustrated the frustration inside the Ferrari garage. At one point, Leclerc’s comments hinted at problems with the car’s energy recovery system (ERS) deployment earlier in the race, which might have further compounded the car’s lack of performance later on.

A Frustrating Weekend for Lewis Hamilton

If Ferrari’s race in Hungary was a disaster, Mercedes’ weekend was hardly any better. Lewis Hamilton, once again struggling to find form, started and finished in 12th place, failing to make any progress throughout the race. After a disappointing performance in qualifying, Hamilton faced more challenges during the race and was even involved in an incident with Max Verstappen.

In the post-race interviews, Hamilton did not mince his words. He called himself “useless” and admitted that things inside the team were far from ideal. His frustration was palpable, and it’s clear that doubts are beginning to creep into his mind about Ferrari’s ability to deliver. The team’s lack of progress, especially compared to its competitors, is clearly wearing on him.

As Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle pointed out, it was painful to watch a driver of Hamilton’s caliber struggle so visibly. The question is now not just about his ability to perform on the track, but about whether he can continue to endure this kind of adversity for the remainder of his time at Ferrari.

Ferrari’s Desperate Search for Answers

The Hungarian Grand Prix was not just a race to forget for Ferrari; it became a moment of reckoning. As the summer break began, Ferrari engineers were already hard at work, attempting to understand what had gone wrong. The investigation into the chassis issue began immediately, with the team trying to determine whether this was an isolated issue or a deeper design flaw.

The team’s troubles in Hungary were compounded by the fact that they had already introduced a number of upgrades, including a new floor and a revised rear suspension aimed at improving braking stability and reducing plank wear. However, despite these changes, the core issue persisted. Ferrari was forced to turn down engine power and increase tire pressures, sacrificing performance to ensure the car remained legal.

The team now finds itself at a crossroads. Ferrari has struggled throughout the season to regain its competitive edge, and the pressure is mounting. McLaren and Red Bull have both tasted victory this year, and even Mercedes has managed to get a win. But Ferrari has remained winless, leaving its drivers frustrated and its fans disappointed.

A Test for Fred Vasseur and Ferrari’s Future

Ferrari’s technical director Fred Vasseur has called for calm, but the numbers don’t lie. Leclerc’s lap times in Hungary were indicative of a car that was simply broken. If the problem lies within the chassis, the team faces a nightmare scenario—one that could derail their entire season and leave them with no answers. The team’s focus is already shifting toward the 2026 season, with engineers working on the next-generation car, but the second half of 2025 is looming large. Can Ferrari find a way to salvage the SF25, or will they quietly surrender and start focusing on the future?

Ferrari’s troubles are not just technical; they are psychological. Leclerc, loyal as ever to the team, declared, “We must make sure this never happens again.” But the question remains: How? Ferrari is now in the midst of a full-blown identity crisis, and the answers are not immediately apparent.

As Ferrari begins its summer break, questions abound. Is the SF25 fundamentally flawed, or was the Hungarian Grand Prix just a cruel anomaly? Will Leclerc and Hamilton trust the car again, or will they begin to lose faith in the team’s ability to deliver? The team’s performance in the second half of the season will be critical, not only for their championship aspirations but for their future direction. The pressure is on Ferrari to turn things around before it’s too late.

Conclusion: A Critical Juncture

For Ferrari, the Hungarian Grand Prix was more than just another race; it was a crisis. A team that has long been synonymous with success and greatness now faces a critical challenge: Can they fix the SF25 and find their way back to the front of the grid? Or are they destined for another season of frustration, failure, and missed opportunities?

The answers won’t come easily, but one thing is clear—Ferrari’s future hinges on the next steps they take. The clock is ticking, and the world is watching. The pressure is mounting, and Ferrari must confront its demons head-on if they want to remain a force in Formula 1. Whether or not they can overcome this crisis and emerge stronger will define the remainder of their season and potentially their future in the sport.

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