The Ferrari Formula 1 team is struggling to keep up with their competitors in the Japanese Grand Prix, with a lack of performance hampering their progress on the track. Despite Charles Leclerc managing to secure a fourth-place finish, the SF-25 failed to showcase the speed needed to challenge the front runners.
Both Leclerc and Hamilton are facing constant challenges with the car, as they battle to extract more speed and consistency. Leclerc currently sits in sixth place in the championship standings, while Hamilton is lagging behind in eighth place, trailing even Alex Albon.
In the race at Suzuka, Leclerc had to fend off a determined George Russell in the early stages before pulling away to secure his best result of the season so far. Hamilton, on the other hand, struggled after starting on hard compound tires. Despite a strong initial stint that saw him climb to second place, he couldn’t match the pace of his Mercedes replacement, Antonelli, towards the end of the race.
The Team Principal, Fred Vasseur, acknowledged the team’s limitations, stating, “With the car we had, we probably couldn’t have done more. We were two or three tenths off the pace in qualifying, and it was pretty much the same today in the race.” Vasseur emphasized the need to work on the car’s balance and tire management to extract more performance in the upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
As Ferrari grapples with their underperforming car, all eyes will be on how they adapt and improve in the races ahead. Will they be able to overcome their struggles and challenge the dominance of McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull? Stay tuned for all the adrenaline-fueled action in the world of Formula 1.
