The Japanese Grand Prix marked another bitter chapter for Ferrari, a day that the fans of the Reds will hardly forget. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, left Maranello in shock with a statement that shook the foundations of the team. After a disappointing race in Suzuka, where he finished only seventh, the British driver did not hide his frustration, pointing the finger at the SF-25: “We have a problem on the car that is costing us tenths every lap. I hope we solve it soon, but at the moment I don’t feel comfortable with this car.” Words that sound like an alarm for the team, already struggling with a troubled start to the season.
Ferrari, which had raised the hopes of the fans with the arrival of Hamilton, now finds itself having to deal with a cruel reality. The double disqualification in China for technical irregularities, with Leclerc underweight and Hamilton penalized for excessive pad wear, had already highlighted glaring errors. In Suzuka, the gap of two-three tenths from McLaren and Red Bull was evident, and Hamilton’s alternative strategy, with medium tires in the second part of the race, did not bring the hoped-for results. “Even if I had started in front, the Mercedes would have overtaken me,” he admitted, highlighting the gap in competitiveness.
Team principal Fred Vasseur has tried to calm the waters, speaking of “balance issues” that need to be resolved before introducing updates. But Hamilton’s words, combined with those of Leclerc, who called fourth place “the maximum possible,” paint a worrying picture. Ferrari seems trapped in limbo, far from the podium and unable to exploit the potential of its star duo. Fans, who flocked to Fiorano to celebrate Hamilton’s debut, are now wondering whether the dream of seeing the Reds return to the top is destined to vanish.
Yet, amid the storm, Hamilton reiterated his commitment: “Ferrari is not in crisis, it just needs time.” A message of hope, but also a warning: without quick solutions, 2025 risks being another year of regrets. The next Grand Prix in Bahrain will be crucial to understand whether Maranello will be able to reverse the trend or whether this will truly be “the day of the end” for Ferrari’s ambitions. The fans’ passion remains intact, but patience is starting to run low.
