Red, rich, and still losing: Inside Ferrari’s 20-year F1 struggle

The last time Ferrari won a championship, Lewis Hamilton was driving for McLaren. Realistically, how many people can actually picture Hamilton in a McLaren outfit?

Even with all of the history, the Tifosi behind them, the greatest driver the sport has ever seen in Hamilton, and around R10 billion to spend annually, Ferrari have not known what it feels like to be world champions for nearly two decades.

It’s a drought often swept under the rug in the sport because people are still enthralled by the allure and rich history of the Prancing Horse. But let’s face it — they’ve been slower than politicians delivering on their promises.

Yes, yes, yes … they have 15 world drivers’ championships and 16 constructors’ titles, making them the most accomplished team in F1. They’ve been a part of the sport since the first race at Silverstone in 1950 — but how long are fans expected to endure the drought?

Kimi Räikkönen was the last man in red to lift a world drivers' championship for teh Scuderia back in 2007, after he pipped McLaren drivers Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to the crown that year. A year later, they recorded their last constructors' title, too

A spate of unsuccessful principals

Since 2007, they’ve gone through five team principals, with Fred Vasseur, the former Renault man, currently at the helm.

Stefano Domenicali led from 2008 to 2014, followed by Marco Mattiacci, who served as interim principal from 2014 to 2015. Maurizio Arrivabene tried his luck between 2015 and 2018 but stood absolutely no chance against a rampant Mercedes.

Mattia Binotto had the unfortunate pleasure of being in charge during Max Verstappen’s meteoric rise at Red Bull, which meant Ferrari had no chance of glory during his tenure from 2019 to 2022, lathough they came close in his first year.

Vasseur took over in 2023 but the situation does not look any better under his leadership.

Many questioned Hamilton’s shocking move to Ferrari last year, but many also saw it coming — given the struggles Mercedes have had since the departure of key individuals, most notably James Vowles.

Talk of an eighth World Title with the most decorated team in the sport naturally bubbled to the surface at the end of last season, before Hamilton even got the chance to drive a Ferrari.

The iconic image of Hamilton dressed in a dapper black suit outside Enzo Ferrari’s home in Modena, Italy, gave fresh hope to the idea of that elusive eighth World Title.

New driver, same Ferrari

But then the first race of the season took place in Australia — and all that hope was shattered when the F1 world saw the behemoth McLaren had built for 2025. They also watched as 18-year-old Italian prodigy Kimi Antonelli weaved his way around Hamilton and Leclerc, climbing from P16 to take a P4 for Mercedes.

Hamilton pulled a rabbit out of the hat in China to win the Sprint but hopes of a main race win were quickly dashed after both Ferrari drivers were disqualified. Charles Leclerc’s car was under the minimum weight, while Hamilton’s car breached technical regulations.

Leclerc seized Ferrari’s first podium of the season at the Saudi Grand Prix with a P3 finish. His last win came in the US last year, while Ferrari’s most recent victory was delivered by Carlos Sainz at the Mexican GP in October last year.

The problem for Ferrari isn’t a shortage of talented drivers — it’s putting together a car fast and balanced enough to compete.

Engine reliability and aerodynamics are two areas in which Ferrari have struggled in recent seasons, and this year is no exception. According to Ferrari, the SF-25 is “99% new”, with only the engine carried over from the previous season.

Ferrari switched from a push-rod to a pull-rod front suspension layout to allow for cleaner airflow around the car and greater scope for aerodynamic development. A new rear wing — with a deeper cut in the end fences and a “W” shape to the main plane — was introduced to increase downforce and optimise airflow.

They’ve also extended the SF-25’s wheelbase compared to its predecessor, aiming for better stability and weight distribution.

These changes have done nothing to improve their performance as they struggle for pace and precision.

Heated communications

Car aside, the heated radio exchanges between Hamilton and the Ferrari pit wall during the Miami GP suggest that the problems run deeper than just the SF-25.

Building a fast car and acquiring faster drivers does not automatically win races — it requires the entire team working in harmony, from the pit crew to the race engineers issuing orders.

The Miami GP gave a glimpse into just how unstable Ferrari are at an organisational level. Hamilton exchanged sarcastic, frustration-laden comments with his superiors — and not without cause. The seven-time champion was in a clear position to pass his teammate, but the team refused to give the order.

Ferrari’s radio communications didn’t sound like those of an F1 team — responses to Hamilton were noticeably delayed as he pushed to get past Leclerc and improve his position.

“Have a tea break while you're at it,” Hamilton quipped to the pit wall.

He later admitted the comment was made in the heat of the moment. From a strategic standpoint, poor tyre choices and ill-timed pit stops have plagued Ferrari’s campaigns in recent years — and that hasn’t changed.