Ferrari falter with setup misstep as Hamilton fails to reach podium

The Scuderia had a lot of optimism around them in pre-season with the arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

He was partnered with Charles Leclerc in a stunning lineup as Carlos Sainz found a new home at Williams.

Ferrari narrowly missed out on the Constructors' Championship in 2024 and failed to build on their momentum this year.

They tweaked the suspension in the off-season in a bid to offer a more stable aerodynamic platform. This change didn't pay off as Ferrari lagged behind the pacesetters, McLaren.

Both Leclerc and Hamilton were disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix, with the British driver excluded for excessive plank wear, a day after winning the Sprint.

This meant Ferrari had to raise the SF-25 in the following rounds. The Italian team lost vital performance in an era when running the car as close to the ground as possible was crucial.

Throughout the season, Leclerc had more of a grasp on the SF-25 than Hamilton, scoring consecutive podiums in Monaco and Spain.

By contrast, Hamilton didn't score a podium this year and struggled to maximise the car over a single lap in qualifying.

Hamilton arrived at Ferrari aiming for his eighth world championship, but he failed to score a podium finish in 2025.

The British driver had some near misses at Imola and the British Grand Prix, where he finished fourth but couldn't get onto the rostrum.

His best opportunity may have come at Hamilton's home race, but he couldn't close down Nico Hulkenberg in the closing stages.

On a damp track, the SF-25 was difficult to drive, which prevented the 40-year-old from attacking Hulkenberg.

As the season went on, Ferrari switched more of their focus towards 2026 which made competitive results harder to achieve for Hamilton and Leclerc.

They also lacked sharpness in Ferrari's decision-making. Hamilton was stuck behind Leclerc in Miami while on fresher tyres, unable to attack Kimi Antonelli until the rubber was past its best.

The British driver was eventually let through, but neither Ferrari could pass Antonelli.

Hamilton also tried to let Leclerc pass on the last lap in Azerbaijan, but mistimed it, crossing the line in eighth.

Ferrari lacked raw speed this season despite their star-studded lineup, while strategy could've been slicker at times. They dropped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship after ending up second in 2024.

The new rules in 2026 may provide a new opportunity for Ferrari, but they will need more consistency over a campaign.