Maranello – For decades, Scuderia Ferrari has stood as a symbol of glamour, speed, and unbridled passion in the world of Formula 1. However, behind that polished facade, a simmering crisis has erupted into a full-blown storm, threatening to engulf the ambitions of this legendary team.

For the first time this season, both of Ferrari’s star drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, have publicly voiced their extreme frustration, exposing deep cracks within the team.

Their harsh critiques, aimed at the SF-25 car and the team’s flawed operations, have not only sent shockwaves through Maranello but have left fans worldwide deeply concerned about the future of the iconic racing outfit.

Rage Erupts After Singapore: The SF-25 and Its Undeniable Flaws

Following the race in Singapore, Charles Leclerc did not hesitate to call the SF-25 a disaster. The Monegasque driver’s anger is completely understandable. He has dedicated six, perhaps seven, years of his career to Ferrari, watching each new car be introduced with grand expectations, only to see them fall apart under pressure. Leclerc, once seen as a paragon of loyalty, has now reached his breaking point. He has witnessed his own progress being stifled by an unstable machine, a car that, in his own words, fails to meet the demands of top-tier F1 racing.

The statistics paint a grim picture for the SF-25. This car was meant to be Ferrari’s major step forward, the vehicle that would finally close the gap to Red Bull and McLaren in the new ground-effect era. But the harsh reality is that the SF-25 is one of Ferrari’s worst cars since the new regulations were introduced in 2022. It is slower, harder on its tires, and has the lowest points-per-race average of any Ferrari car in this ground-effect era. This is a catastrophic result for a car that is supposed to represent the pinnacle of engineering.

Ferrari had a promising start in 2022 with the F1-75, securing wins, pole positions, and even nurturing championship aspirations. The 2023 car, the SF-23, may have been flawed, but at least it was fast in qualifying. The SF-25, however, lacks any redeeming qualities. It represents an alarming step backward, leaving both Leclerc and Hamilton deeply disillusioned.

Lewis Hamilton and Disappointment in Team Operations: The Deep-Rooted Problems

While Leclerc attacked the car, Lewis Hamilton, the veteran driver who recently joined Ferrari, targeted another aspect of the team: the trackside operations, procedures, and execution during race weekends. Hamilton came to Ferrari with a single goal: to clinch one final championship before retiring. Instead, he has found a team stuck in the past, incapable of producing a technically sound F1 car and supported by an inept trackside operations team.

The issues Hamilton pointed out are nothing new. From botched pit stops and questionable strategies to a car that is completely unpredictable from one circuit to the next, Ferrari’s operations have become their biggest weakness. Fans have known this for many seasons, but now, their own drivers are speaking out. This signals that the severity of the problem has reached an unacceptable level.

Ferrari’s failure to adapt to F1’s new regulations is alarming. Every time F1 resets the rulebook—in 2009, 2014, and 2022—Ferrari has gotten it wrong. This is a recurring theme that stretches all the way back to 2007, the last time Kimi Räikkönen was a world champion with Ferrari. Every rule change exposes Ferrari’s structural weaknesses: politics over progress, pride over precision. It is the same cycle on repeat: promise, potential, then disaster.

A Toxic Atmosphere and Internal Power Struggles

The problems on the track have led to significant tensions off it. The atmosphere in Maranello is reported to be extremely toxic. What began as simple frustration has exploded into a full-blown power struggle. Inside sources report a heated argument between Team Principal Fred Vasseur and the head of track engineering, Matteo Togninalli, over how the car is being utilized on track.

It doesn’t end there. There are also widespread reports that the team is furious with Charles Leclerc for being too harsh and too open in the media about the car’s problems. This reveals a lack of unity and a deep conflict in how the team manages information and handles crises. It appears Ferrari is trying to force Leclerc into silence, a move that could have even more severe consequences.

History has shown that any driver who publicly criticizes their team’s car rarely gets what they want. This puts Leclerc in a difficult position, forcing him to choose between speaking the truth and preserving a relationship with the team that seems to be already broken.

A Bleak Future: Hamilton Could Retire, Leclerc Seeking an Exit?

Ferrari’s inability to provide a competitive car has pushed both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to their limits. For Hamilton, at 40 years old, his F1 career is nearing its end. If the car doesn’t perform, he may consider retiring and leaving with his head held high, having already achieved everything possible in his career.

Charles Leclerc is in a different situation. He is approaching his 30th birthday and has nothing to show for his many seasons in F1 and at Ferrari. When looking at his main rival, Max Verstappen, the contrast is stark. Since the new ground-effect era began in 2022, Verstappen has claimed 46 wins, 33 pole positions, and three world titles. In that same period, Leclerc has just five wins, 17 poles, and zero world championships. Although he is widely regarded as one of the few drivers who can match Verstappen’s raw speed, his lack of results speaks volumes.

Rumors have been swirling that Leclerc’s entourage has held talks with both Mercedes and Aston Martin about a potential move for 2027. This suggests that Leclerc is seriously looking for a way out of Ferrari, a team that cannot provide him with the car he deserves. If the 2026 car is another disaster, both drivers could look for an exit for different reasons.

The tragedy is that Ferrari’s endless cycle of failure is wasting the prime years of multiple drivers capable of greatness. It’s not just the current drivers; Ferrari has had Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Räikkönen—the list goes on, all of whom have endured similar situations since 2008.

The Road Ahead: A Faint Hope for Ferrari

Unless Ferrari can somehow reinvent itself for the 2026 regulations, fix its deep-rooted flaws, and genuinely mount a title challenge, the team’s future looks incredibly bleak. If not, we could see Leclerc move to Mercedes or Aston Martin, and Hamilton retire after a disappointing stint with the team. This is certainly not the way a glittering career like Hamilton’s should end in the world of motorsports.

Ferrari, with its glorious history and millions of fans worldwide, is at a critical crossroads. Can they overcome this crisis, learn from their repeated mistakes, and return to their rightful place as champions? Or will they continue to be mired in a cycle of internal politics and incompetence, pushing their greatest talents into the arms of their rivals? The answer may well shape the future of Formula 1 for years to come.