Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 season kicked off with a disappointing Australian Grand Prix, where the team scraped together just five championship points. Charles Leclerc, finishing eighth, and new teammate Lewis Hamilton, grabbing the final point in tenth, couldn’t mask the Scuderia’s struggles in Melbourne’s unpredictable weather.
A Tough Start for Ferrari in 2025
The season opener at Albert Park was a rollercoaster of conditions—wet tracks, a brief dry spell under a safety car, and a late deluge. Ferrari faltered, unable to keep pace with frontrunners McLaren and Red Bull. Leclerc, visibly frustrated, called for urgent improvements. “We were close to Mercedes ahead, but that’s where it ended,” he told reporters. “McLaren and Red Bull were in a different league. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”
The Puzzle of Ferrari’s Pace in Mixed Conditions
Leclerc pinpointed a recurring issue: Ferrari’s inconsistency in changing weather. “Why we struggle, especially in those conditions, I don’t know yet,” he admitted. The race’s shifting demands—wet tires, a switch to slicks, then back to wets—exposed a gap that left Ferrari trailing. While rivals adapted seamlessly, Leclerc and Hamilton fought to stay relevant, highlighting a weakness that demands answers.
A Long-Standing Ferrari Flaw
This isn’t a new problem. Leclerc revealed that Ferrari’s vulnerability in wet and damp conditions has lingered for years. “It’s been a weakness we’ve had for quite a few seasons,” he said. “Whenever it’s raining or the track is damp, our performance swings up and down. We need to fix this.” The Melbourne result—five points from a possible 44—underscored the urgency for the team to tackle this Achilles’ heel.
Leclerc’s Plea: Time to Act
With McLaren and Red Bull setting the pace, Leclerc’s plea to Ferrari is clear: solve the mystery of their poor adaptability. “There’s a lot of work ahead,” he stressed, signaling a call to action for the Maranello squad. As Hamilton settles into his Ferrari debut, the pressure is on to turn analysis into results. Can the team rise to the challenge before the next wet race?
Looking Ahead for Ferrari
Ferrari’s Melbourne woes aren’t the final word, but they’re a wake-up call. Leclerc’s eighth-place finish and Hamilton’s single point mark a shaky start for a team with championship aspirations. Addressing their pace in tricky conditions could be the key to unlocking Ferrari’s potential in 2025—and beyond.
