Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc offered a stark assessment of their performance, stating, “At the moment it just feels like we are passengers to the car.” This candid remark followed a disappointing Singapore Grand Prix where he finished a distant sixth, 46 seconds behind George Russell`s race-winning Mercedes.
The Singapore event, held in hot and humid conditions under the Marina Bay floodlights, saw both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton grapple with significant brake issues. Hamilton`s problems intensified in the final laps, ultimately relegating him to an eighth-place finish, behind Fernando Alonso.
These struggles for Ferrari were exacerbated by their rivals` success. Mercedes and Red Bull secured a one-two finish in Singapore, a reversal of their positions just two weeks prior in Azerbaijan. Both teams demonstrated a strong return to form as the 2025 campaign approaches its crucial final stages.
As Formula 1 heads to North America for the upcoming USA-Mexico double header – venues where Ferrari celebrated their most recent Grand Prix victories last year – the prospect of an unwelcome winless anniversary looms. The pressing question now is: what can the Scuderia realistically salvage from the remaining six race weekends of what has already been a disappointing season?
Leclerc`s Dire Outlook for the Season`s Close
Nearing the conclusion of his seventh season with Ferrari, still chasing elusive world title glory, Leclerc has not shied away from openly discussing the team`s current trajectory.
“Unfortunately, we are now the fourth team and solidly the fourth team,” Leclerc told reporters after the frustrating Singapore race. “Quite far behind the top three. Mercedes managed to do the step Red Bull did in Monza. We didn`t manage to do that so it`s going to be a long end to the season.”
Most points scored in last four races
| Team | Points |
|---|---|
| 1) Red Bull | 96 |
| 2) McLaren | 91 |
| 3) Mercedes | 89 |
| 4) Ferrari | 38 |
| 5) Williams | 32 |
The “step” Leclerc referred to signifies the substantial car upgrades Mercedes and Red Bull have introduced in recent races.
Despite earlier expectations that the post-August summer break period would yield minimal significant performance updates – outside of specific low-downforce packages for tracks like Monza and the upcoming Las Vegas GP – due to the intense focus on the major 2026 regulation overhaul, Red Bull and Mercedes successfully found critical performance gains, a feat Ferrari was unable to replicate.
Red Bull, for instance, benefited from a floor upgrade in Monza, which McLaren believes was pivotal to Max Verstappen`s victory there and the improved performance of their RB21 car. Further low-downforce rear-wing modifications were introduced in Baku, leading to another Verstappen win, followed by a new front wing designed for enhanced downforce in Singapore.
Mercedes, similarly, brought a revised front wing to both of the last two race events.
These advancements have intensified the competition at the front of the field, impacting even the previously dominant McLaren. While McLaren has already secured the Constructors` Championship in Singapore and remains the favorite for the drivers` title, the pressure from their resurgent rivals is undeniable.
Marcus Prine 
Rupert Hollis