Ferrari F1: Leclerc frustrated, Hamilton happy, 20 points at Imola, but the Championship slips further away

The Grand Prix of F1 d'Emilia-Romagna 2025 had all the makings of a debacle for Ferrari. Both eliminated in Q2, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton started only 11th and 12th on the grid. And yet, after 63 laps at Imola, the two drivers made a spectacular comeback, finishing 6th and 4th respectively. All the more reason for the team to take heart. Scuderia. But on closer inspection, the balance sheet remains worrying.

Hamilton shines... in spite of everything

While Leclerc's frustration was palpable, Hamilton finished the race with a smile on his face. Very much at ease in his SF-25, the Briton confided that he had rediscovered Sprint-like sensations in Chinahis latest outstanding performance. "There are tons of positives," he said, underlining a "perfect" strategy and a new-found synergy with his single-seater.

For the first time since the start of the season, Hamilton felt truly connected to his car. This progress enabled him to climb back up to fourth place, even flirting with the podium in the final laps. "If we had qualified better, we could have fought for a podium, which I didn't think was possible," he added. Ferrari may well be on the verge of unleashing the full potential of its duo.

Leclerc, disillusionment and cold anger

On the Monegasque side, the mood was quite different. Although Leclerc also made a fine comeback, his sixth-place finish was tinged with bitterness. "It's frustrating," he said, lamenting in particular the poor synchronization of the safety cars. Forced to stay on track with worn hard tires during the final restart, while Hamilton went back through the pits, Leclerc found himself in difficulty against his better-shod rivals.

"At first, I thought everything was going my way," he sighed. But fate decided otherwise. Even the idea of returning to Monaco, where he triumphed last year, wasn't enough to rekindle the flame. To a journalist's question about his optimism for the next Grand Prix, Leclerc simply replied: "No."

Points, but a widening gulf

Despite the drivers' best efforts, the verdict is in: Ferrari scored just 20 points at Imola. The Scuderia remains 4th in the Constructors' standings with 114 units, now well behind McLaren (279 points), Mercedes (147) and even Red Bull (131), who have been lagging behind in recent weeks.

Rank	Manufacturer	Points	Podiums
1	McLaren	279	12
2	Mercedes	147	4
3	Red Bull	131	4
4	Ferrari	114	1

The comeback at Imola was only a trompe-l'oeil: Ferrari is still struggling in the standings, and the road to the top looks increasingly complicated. In our opinion, even with a better trend, Ferrari won't be able to aim higher than 2nd place in the Constructors' Championship this year.

Monaco on target, with caution

Ferrari shone in Monaco in 2024 with a resounding victory. This year, expectations are more measured. Hamilton is worried about his one-lap performance in qualifying. For his part, Leclerc seems resigned, aware that strategy and luck will have to work in their favor once again this time.