For Vasseur, Ferrari struggled "too much" in qualifying in Miami

How difficult it must be to be a Tifoso… Mocked in previous years for her numerous strategic errors and other clumsiness in the stands, Ferrari has derailed many successes when its single-seaters could have been aiming for victories. In 2025, these blunders are nothing more than a bad memory, and the progress in strategy and efficiency is remarkable. The only problem: now, it's the car that no longer performs.

It is difficult to comment on the performance of the Ferrari drivers. Charles Leclerc et Lewis Hamilton are, if we look beyond the results of their last two races, the most experienced driver duo on the grid and, although it is debatable, probably the most talented. As such, they manage to get the most out of their bikes – or almost. The Briton is sometimes in difficulty, discovering for the first time in his career a Formula 1 Italian, his adaptation is delicate. Much criticized since his debut in red, it is difficult to blame him, just like his teammate Charles Leclerc, in view of the images on board the SF-25 during qualifying for the Grand Prix of Miami. The car seems indomitable, and the drivers are in a constant battle to keep control of it.Result: Disappointing qualifying. In Florida, Lewis Hamilton qualified 12th and Charles Leclerc 8th, behind the two Williams...

While the Prancing Horse was battling for the Constructors' Championship at the final round in Abu Dhabi in 2024, the winter gamble of developing a new (99% new) car has yet to bear fruit. With 2026, the year of regulatory revolution, fast approaching, the efforts invested in the development of the SF-25 will be limited. Clearly, the clock is ticking for Ferrari.

"A bad characterization," Vasseur acknowledges.

As explained in the prelude to this article, Ferrari's struggles resemble a game of whack-a-mole: with each flaw corrected, a new one emerges. In 2022 and 2023, the Scuderia's strong point was Saturday qualifying, but race pace didn't match, and the red cars tended to cross the checkered flag in lower positions than those on the starting grid. Since last year, the problem has been reversed: Ferrari has decent race pace, but struggles on a fast lap. The problem is that to be champion, you need to have both aces up your sleeve.

In Miami, sixth meeting of the 2025 season, The picture is not entirely bleak for the Scuderia thanks to Lewis Hamilton's third place in the Sprint race. However, this position does not reflect a solid rhythm of the car, but rather a winning strategy imposed by the seven-time world champion on his team. The proof is in the pudding: four hours after this performance, the Briton failed to reach Q3 for the main race.

« It was a bad characterization, admitted Frédéric Vasseur. We had a lot of trouble completing a lap on the new soft tires. We set our fastest lap on worn tires, and that's not the best way to qualify. Since the beginning of the season, we've struggled more in qualifying than in the race, but today was too much. Now the Grand Prix will be a different story. So far this season, we've always had better pace on Sundays than on Saturdays, and we'll see what we can do. »

Betting everything on Sunday, starting 12th and 8th on the grid, is unlikely to allow Ferrari to reach the podium for a second consecutive time this season... barring a miracle. Join us at 22:00 PM (French time) for the Miami Grand Prix.

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