Image: 2025 Japan GP – Ferrari – Lewis Hamilton – FP1 By Liauzh – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, (Wikipedia)
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle with Agencies
Budapest, July 31, 2025 — Ferrari is set to introduce two critical updates at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, as they attempt to tackle an “endemic” understeer issue that has plagued their 2025 Formula 1 campaign and left them as the only top-four team without a race victory this season.
The Italian outfit is bringing both front and rear wing configurations previously tested in Monaco, aimed specifically at improving grip and responsiveness through the tight, twisty corners of the Hungaroring, a track where Ferrari hopes the SF25’s limitations can finally be overcome.
Despite flashes of competitiveness, Ferrari has struggled for consistency in 2025. Charles Leclerc’s recent form, which includes four podiums in six races, suggests Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade at the Belgian Grand Prix is already paying dividends, especially in his hands. The Monegasque driver appears to have adapted quickly to the latest updates, unlocking new performance from the car’s setup window.
In contrast, teammate Lewis Hamilton continues to wrestle with confidence in the SF25. The seven-time world champion admitted it took him “two days” to come to grips with the recent suspension changes, something Leclerc mastered almost immediately. Hamilton, now on the longest podium drought of his career, has sent extensive feedback to Ferrari’s engineering team, though Leclerc downplayed this, saying it’s simply “what every driver does.”
Still, Ferrari is optimistic. Motorsport.com’s Italian edition reports that the new aerodynamic package has been designed to address the car’s chronic understeer and bring its cornering capabilities closer to those of championship leaders McLaren. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur, who just renewed his contract this week, is confident that these changes mark a turning point.
“The team is committed to long-term progress, and these targeted upgrades are part of our strategy to challenge at the front again, if not this year, then certainly under the 2026 regulations,” Vasseur said in a statement.
This weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix could serve as a litmus test. The Hungaroring’s shorter layout and tighter turns will reward cars with strong balance and high downforce, exactly the areas Ferrari has focused on improving. The track also punishes setup mistakes more harshly than longer circuits, narrowing the margin for error.
Leclerc currently sits fifth in the drivers’ standings and Hamilton sixth, while Ferrari trails McLaren by a daunting 268 points in the constructors’ championship. Despite the gap, the team is hoping to build momentum and set the foundation for a more competitive second half of the season.
For Hamilton, this year could represent his final real shot at an elusive eighth world title, a goal he has chased for five seasons. The upgrades arriving in Hungary may offer a small but crucial boost to that dream.
As Ferrari aims to reduce the deficit and reestablish itself as title contenders, this weekend’s race could prove pivotal in shaping their short- and long-term ambitions.