Second place in the constructors' championship and third in the drivers' championship for Charles Leclerc do not fully tell the story of the growth path that Ferrari has undertaken in 2024. A world championship that ended with just 14 points of detachment from McLaren, capable of winning its first constructors' title since 1998, has left a mix of regret and awareness in Maranello. In view of 2025, the arrival of Lewis Hamilton and a promising single-seater, the project 677, mark a crucial season to bring the Prancing Horse back to the top of Formula 1. Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari team principal interviewed by The print, expressed confidence but also realism about the challenges that await the Rossa in 2025.
An ambitious project, but cautious optimism
Vasseur praised the team's work on the 2025 Ferrari single-seater, rechristened 677 in the factory:
“On paper it is very good, but in Formula 1 everything is relative. If you do well, it does not mean you are ahead of the others. We know we have very strong rivals like Red Bull and McLaren. Every morning we work on the data from the previous evening, we want to extract the maximum from the beginning since quite soon we will have to focus on 2026 and the new rules.”
The goal is to start strong immediately, aware of how important it is not to lose ground in the first races. The team principal also highlighted the contribution of two key figures: Loic Serra, chassis technical director, and Jerome D'Ambrosio, his deputy, who according to Vasseur are bringing a positive dynamic within the team.
Hamilton and Leclerc: a winning duo?
The arrival of Lewis Hamilton represents a change of pace for Ferrari, but Vasseur does not underestimate the value of Charles Leclerc, increasingly mature and constant:
“Charles has known about Lewis’ arrival since the beginning and understands that it is an opportunity for the team. I don’t know if I would bet on Hamilton being champion in 2025, but I would bet on Ferrari. Leclerc is also ready to win a world championship. His victories in Monte Carlo, Monza and Austin show that he is not a fragile driver, but he can handle the pressure.”
The relationship between the two drivers, according to Vasseur, will be based on mutual respect and a common goal: to bring the title back to Maranello.
Lessons from 2024 and a look to the future
Despite the progress shown during the season, the team suffered critical moments that compromised the final result. Among these, the Canadian Grand Prix, where Ferrari finished without points despite high expectations:
“Coming back from Montreal with no results was a hard blow. In four games we lost about 80 or 90 points, something that weighed heavily on the final outcome of the year. We have to work to avoid new missteps.”
For 2025, the focus will be on filling the gaps that emerged in the comparison with McLaren, which has shown a slight superiority in qualifying compared to Ferrari, more competitive in the race. Vasseur concluded:
“My job is to minimize the losses. With two tenths more we would have been in a better position, but we have to work to secure the last step towards the title.”
With a top-level driver pairing, an ambitious project and lessons learned from past mistakes, Ferrari is preparing for a season in which the world championship dream finally seems within reach.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
