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The F1 season is entering a crucial phase, and questions are growing around Ferrari’s technical direction under Frédéric Vasseur and Enrico Cardile, especially following back-to-back podiums in Monaco and Spain. To shed light on the current situation at Maranello, we conducted an exclusive interview with former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola, now live on our YouTube channel.
In our conversation, Mazzola offered sharp analysis and deep technical insights, raising the question: Is Ferrari navigating blindly once again this summer?
Summer Limbo: A Familiar Ferrari F1 Trend
According to Mazzola, Ferrari’s trajectory feels worryingly familiar. “Every year, as summer begins, Ferrari enters a kind of limbo,” he explains. The team struggles to decide whether to abandon the current season’s development to focus on the next year—or to continue fighting with what they have.
Despite a second place in Monaco and a third place in Spain, Mazzola points out that these results came more from a lack of competition—with Mercedes struggling and Red Bull facing internal issues—rather than a leap forward in Ferrari’s own performance.
F1 Ferrari ’s SF-25: Still a Car with Major Balance Issues
Mazzola didn’t hold back in describing the limitations of the current Ferrari package:
“It’s a difficult car to drive. Leclerc manages it because he’s used to handling tricky cars, but Hamilton is clearly uncomfortable. The car lacks grip, is very sensitive to ride height, and is fundamentally unbalanced.”
He emphasized that aero limitations and chassis setup are still hurting Ferrari. The SF-25 seems unpredictable mid-corner, especially on circuits like Barcelona that expose weaknesses in mechanical grip and aerodynamic efficiency.
Technical Directive? No Real Impact
Much was made about a technical directive aimed at front wing flexibility, but Mazzola believes it was overhyped:
“From what Andrea [presumably Stella or another source] said, McLaren already complied with the directive in earlier races. Nothing really changed. If anything, McLaren has continued to grow.”
Verstappen Alone vs the McLaren Storm
The former engineer also reflected on how Verstappen couldn’t hold off both McLarens in Spain, despite his best efforts. Meanwhile, Mercedes continues to fall behind, even with the same power unit that’s propelling McLaren to podiums.
“Red Bull’s strategy in Spain was confusing. Starting on mediums and finishing on hards for just a few laps—it made no sense. Verstappen seemed to lose focus.”
Hamilton: A Champion Out of Place?
One of the most critical observations came when Mazzola analyzed Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation struggles. He pointed out not just technical mismatches, but also a lack of chemistry with the Ferrari team:
“Hamilton looks like a fish out of water. A seven-time champion deserves a car he can connect with. Instead, he seems completely out of sync with the engineers.”
The most telling moment? Mazzola highlights the overtake by Nico Hülkenberg on Hamilton as a clear signal of Ferrari’s internal struggle—and of Hamilton’s.
Vasseur’s Management Under Fire?
As the team leader, Vasseur is trying to keep morale high, saying Ferrari has made progress. But Mazzola questions the direction:
“Saying we’ve improved because we’ve had two podiums… well, it’s not convincing. The reality is that we’re performing due to others’ failures, not because we’ve solved our issues.”
Leclerc: The Bright Spot
Despite Ferrari’s woes, Mazzola praised Charles Leclerc’s performance:
“He’s absolutely at Verstappen’s level. He can pull out qualifying laps, race pace—everything. He just needs the right car.”
Watch the Full Interview
Don’t miss our full exclusive interview with engineer Luigi Mazzola, now available on our YouTube channel. We dive into:
- Ferrari’s internal confusion
- Red Bull’s risky strategies
- McLaren’s rise
- Mercedes’ mechanical struggles
- Why Leclerc could be world champion—with the right car
Click here to watch the full interview on YouTube