Ante is upped for Ferrari at Monza weekend

For Ferrari, Monza is never just another race. The Italian Grand Prix represents heritage, pride, and the emotional heartbeat of Formula 1 for the Scuderia. Every September, thousands of devoted Tifosi paint the circuit red, demanding more than just effort—they expect glory.

This year, however, the stakes feel even higher. After a bruising weekend in Zandvoort, Ferrari arrive at their home race with both urgency and immense expectation pressing down on them.

Last week in the Netherlands, Ferrari’s campaign hit another painful low. A messy qualifying session left Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton out of position, and the race only compounded the misery.

Strategy errors, tyre degradation, and an untimely crash left the team collecting fewer points than they had anticipated. Zandvoort was meant to be damage limitation; instead, it exposed Ferrari’s fragility in a season that was supposed to mark their resurgence.

That backdrop makes Monza pivotal. The historic temple of speed has always been Ferrari’s measuring stick. Winning here, or at the very least securing a podium, carries symbolic weight far greater than championship points.

A poor showing on home soil would not just dent already dented morale, it would echo through the halls of Maranello and test the patience of fans and executives alike.

For a team still searching for consistency in 2025, Monza feels like a crossroads. 

There is also the emotional factor. Ferrari’s Tifosi have endured too many false dawns, too many years of watching rivals claim the honours.

After Zandvoort’s disappointment, the atmosphere at Monza will be both demanding and unforgiving. For Leclerc, the Monegasque star who has long carried the banner of Ferrari’s future, the home race is an opportunity to reaffirm faith.

For Hamilton, who was brought in to chase an eighth world title, it represents a chance to turn the page on recent struggles and show that Ferrari made the right gamble on his experience.

Technically, Monza should offer Ferrari some respite. The long straights and low-drag setup could play to the SF-25’s strengths, provided the team can keep tyre wear under control and avoid the kind of strategic errors that have haunted them.

Reliability and execution will be the difference between delighting the Tifosi and enduring another painful defeat. 

In essence, the ante has been well and truly upped. Monza will not decide Ferrari’s season mathematically, but it could define it emotionally.

After Zandvoort, Ferrari do not simply need points—they need to make a statement. Anything less, and the chorus of doubt around Maranello will grow louder.

For a team steeped in such rich history, there is no better place to rise from the ashes than at home.