What began as a dream for Ferrari’s new power duo is quickly unraveling into a nightmare.
Just days before the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, tensions are rising inside the Ferrari camp as a mysterious performance flaw threatens to derail Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated comeback season — and extinguish Charles Leclerc’s hopes of back-to-back victories in his home race.
According to sources close to the Scuderia, both drivers have privately expressed frustration over a baffling tyre issue that has plagued the SF-25 since the Miami Grand Prix. The car, while showing flashes of brilliance on worn rubber, is mysteriously underperforming on new Pirelli tyres — especially during crucial qualifying sessions.
And in Monaco, where grid position can mean everything, that’s not just a weakness. It’s a death sentence.
“Set Up to Fail”
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season in one of the most seismic transfers in Formula 1 history, was visibly dejected after last weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, despite securing his best finish in red so far with P4. But it wasn’t the result that stung — it was how hard he had to fight for it from a disastrous P12 qualifying spot.
“Something’s not right,” Hamilton reportedly told team engineers after the race. “We shouldn’t be fighting from the back every weekend. If we can’t qualify, we’re set up to fail.”
His words have echoed through the halls in Maranello, where morale is dipping just as quickly as their championship hopes. Hamilton currently sits sixth in the standings, 93 points behind leader Oscar Piastri, with Leclerc not far ahead in fifth.
Leclerc’s Home Race, Hopes Fading
For Leclerc, the Monaco Grand Prix is more than just another race — it’s redemption.
After finally conquering his home demons in 2024 with a flawless lights-to-flag victory, the Monegasque was expected to defend his crown with newfound confidence. But insiders suggest Leclerc is “deeply concerned” that Ferrari’s tyre woes will leave him vulnerable in qualifying — the one part of the weekend where precision and performance must be absolute.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said one team member. “Charles knows that without a front-row start here, he doesn’t stand a chance. And right now, we can’t give him that.”
The Scuderia is expected to reuse the same high-downforce rear wing from last year’s win to save on development costs, but the bigger issue remains unsolved: why does the SF-25 come alive only when the tyres are past their peak?
A Mystery Ferrari Can’t Solve
Auto Motor und Sport reports that Ferrari’s top engineers are still “in the dark” over the issue, which emerged under the scorching heat of Miami and has since defied data and simulation models alike. The SF-25’s pace on used tyres may be impressive, but its failure to deliver on fresh rubber is costing both drivers dearly — especially in qualifying, where Ferrari has failed to get both cars into Q3 in consecutive weekends.
Despite multiple setup experiments and tire temperature adjustments, the root of the problem remains elusive. Some engineers have even privately admitted that the flaw may be aerodynamic — or worse, baked into the car’s core design.
Pressure Mounts — and Time Runs Out
With McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris surging ahead and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen still in striking distance, Ferrari’s 2025 campaign is quickly slipping through their fingers. The Maranello outfit now finds itself not just in a fight for podiums, but for answers.
As Hamilton and Leclerc prepare to take to the streets of Monte Carlo, one thing is clear: unless Ferrari pulls off a miracle, both drivers may be left watching their title dreams disappear in the rear-view mirror — again.