Title: Is Ferrari’s Legacy Crumbling? Hamilton’s Struggles Highlight The Scuderia’s Downfall in F1
In a shocking twist that has left racing fans gasping for breath, Ferrari finds itself at the center of scorn and derision, with its partnership with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton failing to ignite the spark expected in their inaugural Formula 1 season together. The year 2025 was anticipated as the dawn of a new era for the Scuderia, but instead, it has devolved into a catastrophe of errors and missed opportunities, leaving tifosi to wonder if their beloved team is spiraling into oblivion.
Hamilton’s much-publicized switch from Mercedes to Ferrari was supposed to be the ultimate power play, especially after Ferrari just narrowly missed clinching the Constructors’ Championship in 2024. Hopes soared as the SF-24 showcased promise, but those dreams have deflated faster than a punctured balloon at a child’s birthday party. Social media has erupted with memes and mockery, branding the team as a laughingstock amid a slew of operational blunders. The phrase “delulu over Ferrari” has become a mantra among Gen Z, while older fans lament the decline of a once-great institution.
As the only top team yet to secure a victory in 2025, Ferrari is quickly losing its grip on credibility. Hamilton’s arrival, which saw the departure of a high-performing Carlos Sainz, was supposed to elevate the team’s performance. Instead, the Scuderia’s reliability has plummeted to levels reminiscent of a troubled Honda power unit from 2017. Behind the scenes, one can only imagine Hamilton questioning how he was persuaded to join a team in such disarray.
The root of Ferrari’s troubles can be traced to a trifecta of issues: driver performance, strategic blunders, and a failure to learn from past mistakes. If unchecked, these failures could spell disaster for the team’s future beyond 2026, especially with the driver lineup still in flux. The Scuderia is now caught in a perilous cycle, threatening to tarnish its illustrious legacy.
Gone are the days when Ferrari dominated the racing scene with strategic brilliance. The late ’90s and early 2000s saw the team revered for its tactical genius, with rivals constantly looking over their shoulders at the scarlet pit wall. A prime example is Hungary 1998, where Michael Schumacher, against all odds, executed a legendary strategy that left McLaren in disbelief. Fast forward to 2025, and the notion of Ferrari pulling off a similar masterpiece is met with derisive laughter.
The season opener in Australia foreshadowed a disastrous year for Ferrari. When unpredictable weather hit the Albert Park Circuit, rival teams reacted swiftly, while Ferrari, with its drivers in front, hesitated for two laps before switching to intermediates, resulting in Hamilton and Charles Leclerc plummeting down the order. Team principal Fred Vasseur attempted to downplay the blunder, but the admission that Ferrari made “the wrong call” only deepened fans’ frustrations.
The nightmare continued in China, where Ferrari faced one of the most humiliating blunders in F1 history—a double disqualification for technical infringements. The team’s inability to adhere to basic ride height regulations laid bare the ongoing issues with the SF-25, which has yet to unlock the performance potential of ground effect that rivals like McLaren have exploited.
The absurdity of Ferrari’s pit-wall decisions has become a running joke. Hamilton’s sarcastic quip on the radio during the Miami race—suggesting his team take a leisurely tea break—perfectly encapsulates the absurdity. In Montreal, poor communication led to Hamilton emerging from the pits into a swarm of traffic, while in Baku, an amateurish choice of soft tires during changing conditions crushed his weekend hopes.
Hamilton’s much-lauded switch to Ferrari has been anything but a fairy tale. Once viewed as a potential resurgence for the Scuderia, it is now a tale of disappointment. Insiders have pointed to issues with car setup and braking, leaving Hamilton struggling to adapt to the SF-25. The dynamics between him and his new race engineer have been less than ideal, with communication issues exacerbating the situation.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, once seen as the future of Ferrari, has not been exempt from criticism. Despite securing five podium finishes, his season has been marred by self-inflicted wounds—crashes and errors at crucial moments have hindered his progress. The mounting pressure on him to perform only exacerbates the frustration felt throughout the team.
As the clock ticks toward the end of 2025, both Hamilton and Leclerc are bound to Ferrari until the end of 2027, but their futures hang in a precarious balance. With new technical regulations on the horizon, the decision to halt all remaining upgrades this season signals a desperate attempt to regroup for 2026. However, this risky gamble could prove detrimental if results do not improve.
Ferrari’s board has a history of impulsive decisions, and as mistakes pile up, patience is wearing thin. The arrival of Hamilton came with the promise of ending an 18-year title drought, but the current trajectory suggests a dangerous legacy is forming instead—one that could see Ferrari revert to the dark days of the early 1990s.
The pervasive online mockery is the least of Ferrari’s worries; the specter of a return to mediocrity looms large. The Scuderia must act decisively to reverse this decline, or risk becoming a cautionary tale in the annals of Formula 1 history. As the racing world waits with bated breath, one question remains: will the wheel of fortune land favorably for Ferrari in the upcoming races, or are they destined for an even darker fate?
