Charles Leclerc expressed uncertainty over whether Ferrari will secure another win before the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season, casting doubt on the Scuderia’s chances after a difficult race in Hungary. Despite showing strong performance early in the Hungarian Grand Prix, Leclerc’s pace unexpectedly dropped, causing him to fall from the podium positions, which has led to questions about Ferrari’s competitiveness for the remainder of the season.
Leclerc dominated the opening half of the Budapest race after securing pole position and maintained control on a challenging circuit known for limited overtaking opportunities. Yet following a mysterious decrease in speed late in the race, he lost ground to both McLaren drivers and Mercedes’ George Russell, ultimately finishing just outside the top three.
Challenges Faced by Ferrari in Recent Races
Ferrari’s 2025 campaign has seen McLaren’s MCL39 emerge as the dominant car, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri combining to win all but three of the first 14 races. Ferrari showed signs of progress during the recent Belgian and Hungarian rounds, finishing third in Belgium and then taking pole in Hungary, but struggled to convert pace into victory.
Leclerc’s sudden pace decline in the second half of the Hungarian race remains unexplained, though Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur hinted it might be related to a chassis issue. Observers and rivals speculated that Ferrari was forced to increase the car’s ride height through higher tyre pressures during the final stint, potentially compromising speed and handling.
Despite these setbacks, Ferrari remains the only front-running team among the top four yet to clinch a race win this season.
Leclerc Reflects on Team’s Missed Opportunity in Budapest
After the chequered flag, Leclerc acknowledged that Hungary might have been Ferrari’s best shot at victory this year and expressed frustration at the missed chance.
“I’m not sure. I don’t think so,”
Leclerc admitted when asked about his prospects for future wins within the season.
He recognized McLaren’s strength and speed, particularly highlighting how difficult it was to pass on the tight Budapest track. Leclerc noted that while Piastri may have had a slight pace advantage, overtaking remained tough amid “dirty air.”
“That’s what makes the frustration even bigger, because we knew that this was one opportunity probably over the season and we had to take it, but unfortunately, with this issue, we couldn’t do much.”
Fred Vasseur Offers a More Optimistic Perspective
In contrast to Leclerc’s cautious outlook, Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur spoke more positively about the team’s potential moving forward. Pointing to the recent improvements and upgrades made to the SF-25 car, Vasseur refrained from ruling out future race wins despite the current challenges.
“I don’t have the crystal ball, but if you have a look at Spa, we were back, we were two-tenths off in the race,”
he commented, referencing the strong performance in Belgium.
Vasseur also highlighted the team’s pole position achievement and race leadership in Hungary as signs that Ferrari has regained competitiveness on certain weekends. While the final results were disappointing, he emphasized several positives in recent performances and suggested that the car’s pace is again within striking distance.
“But we can also take the positive of the last two weekends with a good upgrade on the car, that the performance is back, that we don’t have to draw a conclusion on the last stint.”
McLaren’s Andrea Stella Anticipates Ferrari as a Consistent Rival
Andrea Stella, team principal of McLaren, reinforced the view that Ferrari remains a strong contender despite the current results. He predicted that Ferrari would continue to challenge McLaren for victories throughout the remainder of the 2025 season, recognizing the threat posed by the Scuderia.
“Definitely anytime we were racing in the second part of the season, we will have to take into account that he qualified and led the race, and we will have to deal with Ferrari.”
Stella’s assessment underscores Ferrari’s potential to influence championship battles, even as McLaren maintains a consistent performance edge.
Consistency and Technical Challenges Define Ferrari’s Race Prospects
Fred Vasseur stressed that Ferrari’s chances of winning depend heavily on consistent performance throughout race weekends. While the SF-25 can be competitive, the team needs to improve in qualifying sessions and race strategy to match McLaren’s reliability and speed.
“It’s difficult to predict,” Vasseur acknowledged, noting that a single strong weekend does not guarantee continued success. He pointed to the contrast between McLaren’s steady performances and Ferrari’s lingering inconsistency during practice and qualifying rounds.
“And if we want to win, we need to be very consistent in every single condition, in FP have good preparation for the race, and Q1, Q2, Q3 all the same, and in the race with the different compounds and so on. I think today they are a bit more consistent.”
Leclerc’s recent experience and the technical challenges faced by Ferrari highlight the need for continued development and strategic execution if the team wants to turn their potential into victories in the remaining races of the season.