Ferrari faces the Fia penalty in Imola while Hamilton admits struggles in the Shock 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix Apocalypse
The 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola began with a vortex of drama, while Ferrari is in hot water with the FIA for a violation of the pressure of the tires, while Lewis Hamilton candidly admits to face the challenges at the stable. The iconic Italian team, which runs on home soil, is under control after an infringement during the test sessions on Friday, aggravating their troubles while McLaren domina and Williams emerges as an unexpected threat. With Hamilton struggles and a potential impending penalty, the Ferrari’s home Grand Prix is preparing to be a test of resilience.
The rehearsal sessions on Friday at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari motoring have painted a strong picture of the competitive panorama. McLaren, led by Oscar Plastri, said their domain with the fastest times both in FP1 and in FP2, showing a car that excels in high -speed corners such as Piratella and Minerali of Imola. Plastri has a slight advantage over teammate Lando Norris, who has a strong story in Imola, preparing the foundations for a potential rendering of McLaren accounts in qualifying. Behind them, Mercedes and Red Bull are blocked in a battle for the next level, with the updates of the Red Bull floor that cannot fill the gap to McLaren. Max Verstappen, hindered by oversteer in practice, faces an uphill climb, although his story of transforming the struggles of practice into pole positions – as seen in Japan – keeps it in the conversation.
Ferrari, however, is struggling with a crisis of rhythm and compliance. In FP1, Lewis Hamilton showed promises, recording the fourth faster time, just 0.1 seconds from the reference point of piastri. But FP2 was a different story, both with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc afflicted by brake problems and a lack of definitive speed. The X posts captured Hamilton’s frustration for the team’s radio, complaining, “these damned brakes”, while struggling to find rhythm. Leclerc was also out of the rhythm, with the SF-25 that appears unruly to 13 and 15 years old. The team’s troubles were aggravated by an unexpected challenge by Williams, who, just coming out of a double point in Miami, showed a surprising pace in practice, positioning them as a potential dark horse to Outscore Ferrari this weekend.
The most harmful development came from the FIA, while the technical delegate Jo Bauer reported Ferrari for a violation of the pressure of the tires on Leclerc’s car during FP1. According to Bauer, Ferrari regulated the pressure of the front tires on Set 16602 while the car was stopped in the garage, failing to follow the procedures outlined in the TD003Q Technical Directive. This violation of Article 30.5 a) of the Fiam’s Formula 1 sports regulations pushed a postponement to the administrators, with a fine of € 5,000 confirmed late on Friday, reflecting the penalties imposed on Mercedes for a similar infringement in Brazil 2024. Ferrari has the right to appeal, but it is unlikely that disputes the sentence, focusing on the recovery of the weekend.
Hamilton’s Candida admission to his transition to Ferrari added another layer of intrigues. Speaking with Autosport, the seven times world champion revealed the immense challenges of adaptation to life in Maranello. “I expected that it would be difficult because before I joined a team,” said Hamilton. “I entered with an open mind, but I didn’t know how difficult it would be. It is as demanding as it could ever be.” Currently in seventh place in the drivers’ championship, Hamilton Trails Leclerc significantly, despite the flashes of brilliance as his Sprint Race victory in China and a third place in the Sprint of Miami. His struggles highlight the steep learning curve of the integration into the complex of Ferrari’s ecosystem, with brake problems and inconsistent rhythm that hinder his progress.
While the frames of Imola’s qualifications, Ferrari faces a fundamental moment. McLaren’s supremacy, Williams’ unexpected rhythm and Fia’s penalty have put the stable on the rear foot. For Hamilton and Leclerc, overcome the brake troubles and unlock the potential of the SF-25 will be crucial to save the points in front of the passionate fans. The 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is proving to be a crucible for Ferrari, testing their resilience and operational precision. Will they arise on the occasion or will McLaren and Williams steal the spotlight? The responses are located on the historical asphalt of Imola.
