Former Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill has voiced serious concerns over the growing pressure on Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur amid the team’s underwhelming 2025 campaign. Once tipped as championship contenders alongside McLaren, Ferrari has struggled to deliver results, lagging behind Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren in both pace and performance. Hill noted that Vasseur’s “honeymoon period” is over, emphasizing that Ferrari’s failure to compete—particularly against traditionally weaker teams like Williams—is a glaring red flag for a team of such pedigree.
Ferrari entered the season with high aspirations, fueled by strategic changes to the SF-25 chassis aimed at improving competitiveness. Despite these adjustments, they have managed only one podium in a main race, with a few flashes of brilliance during Sprint events. Hill, speaking on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, warned that this lack of consistency will only amplify scrutiny on Vasseur. He underscored that a team of Ferrari’s stature cannot afford such mediocrity, especially when trailing outfits they were expected to dominate.
Further compounding Ferrari’s issues is the re-emergence of old operational flaws. The team has demonstrated visible indecision during crucial race moments—hesitating in strategy calls, a trait that has haunted them in past seasons. Such lapses have proven costly in an ultra-competitive grid where precision and risk management are paramount. Hill remarked that these failures indicate deeper systemic issues that leadership must urgently address.
Looking ahead, Vasseur remains cautiously optimistic. He revealed to MotorsportWeek that the team will introduce updates to the SF-25 between the Imola and Barcelona races. These upgrades include a mandatory front wing revision in Barcelona, mandated by regulation, and several minor improvements prior to that. Vasseur insisted that the main challenge isn’t the machinery itself, but the team’s inability to fully harness the car’s performance potential—a gap that must be closed quickly if they are to mount any credible comeback.
Currently sitting fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with 94 points—11 behind Red Bull and a staggering 152 adrift of leaders McLaren—Ferrari’s position is precarious. Vasseur’s leadership will be tested in the coming races, and any further slip-ups could not only derail their season but also intensify internal and external pressures on his tenure. With expectations mounting and rivals accelerating ahead, Ferrari’s next moves will be pivotal in determining the future of their 2025 campaign.