Ferrari left Singapore still searching for their first podium in five races, as questions over their direction continue to grow.
Since the summer break, they have looked lost compared to their competitors. Finishing second in the constructors’ championship now feels very unlikely, and there’s cause for concern heading into the 2026 F1 regulations for both of their drivers.
Charles Leclerc made the most of his afternoon with a sixth-place finish, while Lewis Hamilton ran into late brake issues and slipped from seventh to eighth after a post-race penalty for ignoring track limits.
Leclerc felt Ferrari put Hamilton in a tough spot with their strategy, suggesting it forced him to lean harder on his brakes. While some fans called Hamilton’s penalty harsh, there was no question he’d gained ground by cutting corners.
Ferrari point to qualifying issues as reason behind Hamilton and Leclerc’s tough Singapore race
Fernando Alonso wasn’t happy with Hamilton, who finished seventh by less than half a second. The Brit had clearly pushed the limits to stay in the fight during the closing stages, even though he lost nearly a minute over those final laps.
Ferrari had entered the season with high hopes, expecting to challenge for titles after missing out by just 14 points in 2024. Now, they’re trying to hold onto seventh place ahead of an Aston Martin side that’s shown more progress this year.
Jenson Button has said Ferrari seem ‘afraid’ of making mistakes and suggested their culture needs a shift over the winter. Turning things around in time for next season will be a big task and could influence whether they stick with their current driver line-up beyond 2026.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, team principal Fred Vasseur pointed to Saturday’s poor execution as a key reason for their struggles at Marina Bay. While qualifying didn’t do them any favours, the bigger issue seems to be the general lack of pace from the SF25.
With six races remaining in this Formula 1 season, Ferrari will likely welcome the chance for a reset. They haven’t won a race yet this year, but there’s still something to play for, even as McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes all look stronger at this stage.
Why Ferrari might feel good going into the next race
There is now a small break before Formula 1 returns for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the site of Ferrari’s last one-two finish.
That race was just before their form took a turn. But COTA does seem to suit their car better than some other tracks have this season.
Any bit of momentum they can build before 2026 would be welcome at this point. Lewis Hamilton’s mood has noticeably shifted since joining, and he doesn’t appear as upbeat as he was earlier in the year.
READ MORE: Oscar Piastri reportedly eyeing 2027 move away from McLaren to £3.8bn F1 team
A run of disappointing results has likely taken its toll on everyone at the team, and Austin may represent one of their best remaining chances to change the narrative around their season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
