The Hungarian Grand Prix revealed a significant weakness in the Ferrari 2025 F1 car, casting doubt over the team’s championship ambitions. Despite Charles Leclerc securing pole position, Ferrari’s fundamental design flaw regarding plank wear severely hindered their chances to capitalize on this advantage during the race.
Extensive Redesign Backfires Amidst Rising Rivalry
After nearly capturing the Constructors’ Championship last year, Ferrari extensively revamped 99% of their car for the 2025 season, aiming to close the gap to their competitors. However, these changes have not yielded the desired outcome, with McLaren establishing itself as the leading team so far. Ferrari’s inability to convert the redesign into consistent race wins has left them trailing behind both Red Bull and Mercedes in the standings.
Persistent Plank Wear Problem Limits Performance
The central challenge Ferrari faces lies in managing plank wear, a technical issue that has restricted the car’s performance since the early races. This flaw has forced drivers to adopt conservative race strategies, such as lifting off the throttle and coasting to preserve the plank, which further compromises their pace. Efforts to fix this, like the new rear suspension introduced at the Belgian Grand Prix, have not resolved the issue fully.
Impact of Plank Wear Felt by Top Drivers
The Hungarian GP highlighted the severity of Ferrari’s plank wear concerns when Leclerc had to surrender a promising lead due to the problem. Even experienced champions like Lewis Hamilton struggled with the limitations imposed by Ferrari’s car throughout the weekend, emphasizing the widespread impact of this flaw on competitive performance.
Uncertain Prospects as Season Reaches Midpoint
With no victories recorded so far in 2025, Ferrari approaches the mid-season break facing a difficult path forward. The team’s focus is shifting toward 2026 regulations, leaving limited room for immediate corrections to the ongoing issues. Ferrari’s future success hinges on effectively balancing vehicle performance with plank wear durability.
The Challenge Ahead for Ferrari’s Formula 1 Campaign
McLaren’s ascendancy combined with Ferrari’s unresolved design shortcomings paints a challenging scenario for the Italian team’s attempts at recovery. To regain their place at the front of Formula 1, Ferrari must directly address these engineering obstacles and improve consistency if they hope to reestablish their dominance in the sport.