Ferrari Faces Internal Pressure as 2025 Hopes Dim
A pervasive sense of instability within the Ferrari team is hindering its performance, according to recent commentary from 2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button. The team currently trails Mercedes in the fight for second place in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, adn faces mounting pressure as it navigates a challenging season.
The Italian outfit sits third in the standings with 298 points, 27 points behind Mercedes (325 points) with six race weekends remaining – including three sprint races – in the 2025 season. McLaren currently leads the charge, having secured victory at the recent Singapore Grand Prix.
Expectations were exceptionally high for Ferrari entering the current season, fueled by a strong finish to the 2024 campaign and the high-profile signing of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for 2025. However, the team has yet to secure a Grand Prix win, and Hamilton has reportedly struggled to adapt to the team’s surroundings-a situation that has added to the internal anxieties.
Button, speaking to Sky Sports F1, articulated a concerning atmosphere within Ferrari. “You can’t be afraid to fail.And that’s what it feels like at Ferrari,” he explained. “I think everyone feels it’s easy to be pushed out the door, and it’s not a nice feeling to have.” He emphasized the importance of consistency, stating, “You need to have consistency throughout the team.It gives everyone confidence, and the drivers confidence. So I hope that’s not the case next year.”
Button believes the team’s leadership is strong and its driver lineup – Hamilton and current driver – is exceptional, but acknowledged the current season has fallen short of expectations. “It’s not been the season that they would have hoped [for],” he said. “Obviously, Lewis going to Ferrari, was expecting great things in 2025, and you always think, as a driver, that you can make the difference. But in this sport, you’re up against the best.” He conceded that while the season hasn’t been disastrous, Ferrari has struggled to consistently challenge McLaren, a trend mirrored across the grid with the exception of Max Verstappen.
The internal pressure at Ferrari has been exacerbated by external speculation regarding the future of Team Principal Fred Vasseur. Rumors circulating before the Canadian Grand Prix suggested Vasseur’s position was at risk, prompting a strong defense from the team leader himself.
“It’s not about myself, I think, because this I can manage,” Vasseur stated at the time. “It’s more about the people of the team; I think it’s just disrespectful for them, for [their] families. We had the case last year with the chief of aero already.” He expressed frustration with what he perceived as targeted attacks on the team, questioning the motives behind the negative press. “I don’t know the target. I don’t understand the target. Perhaps it’s to give s**t to the team. But in this case, I don’t see the point.”
Vasseur argued that such distractions undermine the team’s focus and jeopardize its championship aspirations. “At one stage, it’s a lack of focus, and when you are fighting for the championship, every single detail makes the difference,” he said. “If it’s their target to put the team in this situation, they reach their goal. But I think it’s not like this that we’ll be able to win a championship, at least not with this kind of journalist around us.”
The situation at Ferrari underscores the delicate balance between ambition, pressure, and stability required to succeed in the highly competitive world of Formula 1. The team’s ability to address these internal challenges will be crucial as it prepares for the arrival of Lewis Hamilton and strives to reclaim its position at the pinnacle of the sport.
