Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari has attributed the team‘s difficult 2025 season, which coincides with Lewis Hamilton’s arrival, to Formula 1’s budget cap restrictions. Despite high hopes following Hamilton’s signing and a close finish to last season, Ferrari’s performance has sharply declined, leaving them far behind rivals McLaren in the constructors‘ standings.
Last year, Ferrari finished just 11 points behind the champions McLaren, raising expectations that they might finally secure their first title since 2008. However, this season’s performance contrast has been stark as Hamilton has yet to earn a podium in any of the first 14 races, while Ferrari trails McLaren by 299 points in the constructors’ championship.
Impact of Budget Limits and Performance Struggles
Hamilton’s disappointing form is mirrored in qualifying sessions, where team-mate Charles Leclerc outperformed him 10 times in 14 events. Yet, the underlying issue appears to be the overall lack of competitiveness of the Ferrari SF-25 car, which has struggled to contend for race wins altogether. Piero Ferrari, son of the team’s founder Enzo Ferrari, pointed to the financial constraints imposed by the sport’s cost cap as a significant factor.
“I think it’s a matter of cycles,”
he said to Gazzetta.
F1 has always worked this way, and when you start a negative cycle, you don’t know when you’ll hit rock bottom.
“Today, it’s very complicated because you can’t spend more money to bridge the gaps, given the budget cap restrictions. You need to string together a series of winning factors to change course.”
Prospects for Hamilton and Ferrari’s Future Ambitions
Hamilton’s sole highlight with Ferrari so far is his sprint race win at the Chinese Grand Prix, yet he currently sits sixth in the driver standings, trailing Leclerc by 42 points. With both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles out of reach for this season, Ferrari’s focus has shifted toward securing a top-two finish in the constructor rankings and rebuilding Hamilton’s confidence going forward.
The upcoming overhaul of F1 regulations in 2026 presents a potential turning point, as new car designs may better align with Hamilton’s driving style. Since the introduction of the current generation cars in 2022, Hamilton has managed just two race wins, highlighting the challenges he faces with the existing machinery.
Despite moments of frustration, including a rare public suggestion to consider his own replacement at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton remains under contract until the end of 2026. This ensures at least one more season for him to attempt to secure a historic eighth world championship.