Ferrari Delays Crucial Upgrades as Hamilton Faces Retirement Rumors Amid F1 2025 Struggles
Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 season has hit another roadblock as team principal Fred Vasseur announced a delay in the team’s much-needed upgrades, originally slated for the Miami Grand Prix. With the Scuderia languishing in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, 76 points behind leaders McLaren after five races, the decision to push back upgrades until at least the Imola Grand Prix—or possibly the Spanish Grand Prix—has sparked concern among fans and insiders alike.
Vasseur, quoted by Planet F1, explained the reasoning behind the delay: “Miami, there’s the sprint race and little time to work. We’ll probably bring updates to Imola.” He emphasized a methodical approach, stating, “When you understand where the problems are, you can work to solve them. We keep the same approach as last year and think race by race.” The Miami sprint weekend, with its single practice session, offers limited time to analyze new components, a risk Ferrari isn’t willing to take after a challenging start to the season.
The upgrades, which include a new floor and narrower side pods, are designed to address critical issues with the SF-25’s ride height window, aiming to improve heat control, grip on soft tires, and overall qualifying performance. Reports also suggest the delay might extend to the Spanish Grand Prix to align with new FIA flexible wing regulations, adding uncertainty to Ferrari’s timeline. This setback is particularly tough for Lewis Hamilton, who has struggled to adapt to his new team since his blockbuster move from Mercedes. Despite a standout win in the Chinese GP sprint race, the seven-time world champion hasn’t finished higher than fifth in a Grand Prix, with his most recent result—a seventh-place finish in Saudi Arabia—leaving him 31 seconds behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured Ferrari’s first podium of the season. Hamilton’s frustration was palpable post-race, admitting, “At the moment, there’s no fix. If this is how it’s going to be for the rest of the year, it’s going to be painful.”
Hamilton’s struggles have fueled speculation about his future, with former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher suggesting the 40-year-old might retire by the end of 2025 if his situation doesn’t improve. Speaking on Sky Germany’s Backstage Pit Lane podcast, Schumacher remarked, “If it goes on like this, it’s no fun anymore. At some point, he wakes up and thinks, ‘Why am I doing this to myself? I’m 40 years old. I’m so rich. I’m not doing this anymore.’” Schumacher acknowledged Hamilton’s potential, noting his China sprint win showed he can still deliver when the car suits him, but the gap to Leclerc—consistently outperforming him—has raised doubts about the success of Ferrari’s ambitious project with the veteran driver. Posts on X reflect a divided sentiment, with some fans praising Leclerc’s consistency while others sympathize with Hamilton’s adaptation challenges, highlighting the pressure on Ferrari to turn things around.
Despite the upgrade delay, Ferrari’s earlier introduction of a new floor in Bahrain showed promise, though it wasn’t enough to close the gap to rivals like McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes. Vasseur’s decision to wait for a standard race weekend with more practice sessions mirrors a cautious strategy, contrasting with McLaren’s successful 2024 Miami upgrade during a sprint weekend, which propelled Lando Norris to victory and a championship-contending season. For Hamilton, the wait for upgrades prolongs a “painful” season, but his desire for an eighth world title remains a driving force. As Ferrari heads to Miami on May 2-4, all eyes will be on whether Hamilton and Leclerc can extract more from the current SF-25 package—or if the team’s struggles will push Hamilton closer to a shock retirement decision by year’s end.
