Ferrari are grappling with a challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, leaving their star driver Charles Leclerc concerned.
The Maranello-based squad have yet to deliver a race-winning car, with Leclerc’s podium at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix marking their only top-three finish in the opening five races.
Leclerc, an eight-time grand prix winner, now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 52 points (99 to 47).
The 27-year-old pinpointed the team’s inconsistent performance as a core issue, with no single problem consistently plaguing their efforts. “This weekend, it was not always the same issue,” Leclerc said after the Jeddah race.
“We lost four tenths in the first three corners, but for the rest of the lap, we were fast. In the race, our first sector was probably the strongest. We must identify what we are doing wrong, because we are clearly missing something.”
The Monegasque driver stressed the urgency of finding solutions, warning, “We cannot afford to lose too many races before resolving this. Fifty points is already a significant gap in the drivers’ championship, and I don’t want to lose more ground in the coming races.”
Ferrari’s struggles have been most evident in qualifying, where they have failed to extract the car’s full potential. Leclerc qualified fourth in Saudi Arabia but showed strong race pace, reinforcing the team’s belief that victories are within reach if they can improve their starting positions.
“Our race pace is close,” Leclerc noted. “Free air plays a big role in deciding the winner, perhaps more this year than in others. That makes qualifying even more critical, but for two years, we have struggled to put everything together on a single lap.”
The team’s inconsistent qualifying form has sparked discussions on social media platforms like X, where fans have expressed frustration but also optimism about Ferrari’s potential. One user posted, “Ferrari’s race pace is there, but they need to sort out qualifying to challenge for wins.” Another added, “Leclerc deserves a car that can fight at the front every weekend.”
Ferrari now look ahead to the Miami Grand Prix on 4 May, where the 5.412-kilometre Miami International Autodrome will host 57 laps of intense racing. For Leclerc and Ferrari, the race represents a critical opportunity to close the gap to the leaders and reignite their championship campaign.
