After the chaos of the Dutch Grand Prix, the silence in the Ferrari garage soon erupted into something far more sinister.

For weeks, the team had quietly struggled, but what followed after the race marked the beginning of an unprecedented storm in Ferrari’s storied history.

Frederick Vasseur, known for his level-headed approach, was blindsided by a shocking discovery—Ferrari had allegedly sabotaged Lewis Hamilton’s car.

What appeared to be a technical error quickly turned into a deep-rooted conspiracy that exposed a dark undercurrent within the team.

The Shocking Discovery: A Web of Deception

It was only hours after Hamilton’s retirement from the race that Vasseur received a report that would shake the foundations of Ferrari. The internal document revealed that Hamilton’s SF25 had undergone multiple technical changes—without his consent and, most damningly, without the knowledge of his race engineer, Ricardo Adami. The report suggested that the rear suspension height had been lowered by around 3 mm, and the differential preload had been adjusted to a level that was contradictory to the team’s simulator data. While these changes may appear insignificant to a casual observer, in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, such seemingly small adjustments could have catastrophic consequences. Every millimeter, every click of a setting, is critical to a car’s performance.

For a driver like Hamilton, who has forged a reputation for his seamless connection with the car, such changes were not just minor glitches—they were a potential race-ending flaw. The rear axle, which was essential for Hamilton’s overtaking and maintaining stability, suddenly became unpredictable, undermining his ability to control the car with confidence. The unsettling truth was that the changes had not been made through Ferrari’s usual meticulous approval process, but rather by an elite unit within the team—Ferrari’s Central Performance Group (CPG), who had broad authority over optimizing car performance.

The Alleged Sabotage: Ferrari’s Hidden Hand

Ferrari’s Central Performance Group, a shadowy but respected unit, usually worked quietly and efficiently to push the boundaries of car performance. Their role was to enhance speed and stability, and they did so with an almost surgical precision. However, when questioned about the unauthorized changes, members of the group brushed off the accusations, claiming it was “routine optimization” designed to provide a competitive advantage. Yet, for Vasseur, this explanation didn’t sit well. The core issue wasn’t the technical aspects of the changes; it was the breach of trust. To Vasseur, this wasn’t just a case of technical incompetence—it was a direct betrayal of the team’s ethics.

An audit team was immediately dispatched to investigate the extent of the issue, scouring simulator data, telemetry logs, and technical approval records. The results were startling: multiple changes had been made to Hamilton’s car since Friday’s practice sessions, and they were not just confined to ride height and differential preload. Other crucial components, such as rear camber, were altered without the approval of the technical team or Hamilton himself. What appeared to be a simple mistake or one-off error now seemed like part of a far more deliberate and dangerous pattern of interference. This wasn’t just a malfunction—it was an inside job.

Hamilton’s Anger: A Trust Betrayed

Hamilton, known for his composed public persona, was seething behind closed doors. In internal meetings, he voiced his frustration, with one particularly telling statement: “The car is nervous. I can’t trust the rear end.” These words were more than just technical complaints; they were a reflection of the profound betrayal he felt. Hamilton, who had always prided himself on his ability to build a strong working relationship with his engineers and his team, was now questioning whether he could trust anyone in the Ferrari camp. The changes made to the car without his prior consultation left him wondering just how many times this had happened before—and what other secrets the team was keeping.

Hamilton’s anger wasn’t just about a faulty setup—it was about principle. As a driver, he risked his life on every track. The thought that his team was altering his car without his knowledge or approval was an insult he couldn’t easily brush off. It wasn’t just the loss of points or the chance of a race victory—it was the deep sense of betrayal that lingered long after the race had finished.

Vasseur’s Swift Action: A New Era of Accountability

Vasseur’s reaction to the sabotage was swift and decisive. Upon receiving the internal report, he immediately shut down access to all Ferrari systems for the Central Performance Group. All their work laptops, data channels, and even the car’s control devices were blocked, ensuring they couldn’t tamper further with the team’s operations. Three senior engineers from the group were suspended, pending a deeper investigation into the issue.

The damage, however, was not just technical—it was psychological. Vasseur, understanding the importance of rebuilding trust within the team, implemented new procedures designed to ensure such a breach never happened again. From that point on, every change to a car’s setup would require approval from three separate parties: the driver, the race engineer, and a special technical delegate appointed by Vasseur himself. It was a move designed to create a much more transparent and accountable process, ensuring that no one could secretly alter a car’s performance again without being held accountable.

While these measures were seen as strong leadership in the face of adversity, the damage was already done. Ferrari’s internal culture had been irreparably harmed. The question now was whether Hamilton could ever truly trust the team again, and whether his relationship with Ferrari could be repaired.

The Fallout: The Impact on Ferrari’s Championship Hopes

The fallout from the sabotage scandal went beyond the confines of the Ferrari garage. It reverberated throughout the Formula 1 paddock, raising serious questions about Ferrari’s internal workings and the team’s ability to perform under pressure. With Hamilton’s retirement from the Dutch Grand Prix, Ferrari lost out on valuable points that could have put them in a stronger position in the constructor’s standings.

As of now, McLaren has taken a commanding lead with 584 points, while Ferrari languishes at 260 points, a full 324 points behind. Mercedes, meanwhile, is steadily climbing, sitting at 248 points, just behind Ferrari. The pressure is mounting for the Scuderia, and the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza has become an even more significant event for the team.

The driver standings are no better. Oscar Piastri leads with 309 points, while Hamilton has dropped to sixth place with just 109 points. The gap is so wide that Hamilton’s chances of claiming the World Championship are virtually nonexistent. This leaves Ferrari in a precarious position: their internal culture is crumbling, their trust in each other is eroding, and their championship hopes are slipping away.

Monza: Ferrari’s Moment of Truth

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is often seen as the ultimate proving ground for Ferrari. The home race is a sacred event for the team, with their fans rallying behind them in full force. But this year, instead of optimism and excitement, Ferrari is gripped by the shadow of doubt and uncertainty. The sabotage scandal has cast a long, dark shadow over the team’s preparations for Monza.

Hamilton, who had joined Ferrari with hopes of ending his career on a high note, now finds himself in the same position as previous Ferrari drivers like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel. Trust has been shattered, and with it, Ferrari’s prospects for success this season seem increasingly bleak.

Monza will be the test of whether Ferrari can rebound from this crisis or whether it marks the beginning of a new chapter of failure. Can they rebuild the trust within the team? Can they regain the respect of their drivers and fans? The answers to these questions will determine the fate of Ferrari in the 2025 season and perhaps for years to come.

As the Scuderia heads into Monza, the weight of history and expectation looms large. The team’s future—both on and off the track—rests on their ability to confront their demons and prove they are still capable of competing at the highest level of Formula 1.