Guenther Steiner reveals "Fred Vasseur is disappointed with Ferrari's development over the winter"

Scuderia Ferrari was widely expected to start the 2025 Formula 1 campaign as strong contenders for victory against McLaren, but instead, they have fallen far short of expectations, at least in this start of the season. The Italian team’s performance in the Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit was unfortunately nothing short of embarrassing, leaving fans and pundits alike shocked. Lewis Hamilton, in his debut for Ferrari, struggled to earn just one point, while Charles Leclerc’s seat filling with water became the most memorable moment of Ferrari’s disastrous race, highlighting the Maranello team’s disappointing showing in Melbourne.

To make matters worse, Ferrari is already trailing their customer team, Sauber, in the constructors’ championship. Sauber, with a strong performance from Nico Hulkenberg, surpassed Ferrari’s 2024 points tally in just one race. This dramatic shift underscores Ferrari’s struggles and raises serious concerns about their current form.

The team is grappling with a “strange” issue related to Hamilton’s 2025 car, particularly with the car’s balance, a problem that was not present last season. Ferrari’s inability to resolve these issues quickly has left them trailing other top teams, including Mercedes, Hamilton’s former team, and McLaren, who are now dominating the sport.

Team principal Frederic Vasseur’s admission of Ferrari’s poor winter development has added fuel to the fire. At the end of 2024, Ferrari seemed to be on par with McLaren, but somewhere along the way, they failed to keep up with the competition. The gap between Ferrari and their rivals has widened, and their struggles could have significant implications for the upcoming 2026 F1 regulations and beyond.

In a candid moment with ex-Haas boss Guenther Steiner, Frederic Vasseur revealed his disappointment with Ferrari’s lack of progress during the off-season, admitting that the team had missed key opportunities to develop their car and maintain their competitiveness. This failure to capitalize on the winter break could haunt the Italian side in the long term if they don’t find a way to turn things around quickly.

The former Haas team principal mentioned that he had spoken with team boss Fred Vasseur, who expressed some disappointment with the development progress over the winter. The French manager had also believed that they were closer to their competitors than they actually are. He shared this in an interview with the F1-Insider motorsport news media outlet.

Fred Vasseur has had a long-standing and close relationship with the British driver, dating back to their time together in GP2. This bond allows for a high level of honesty and openness between them. However, Hamilton will not be pleased to learn that Ferrari has failed to make the strong impression they were hoping for, despite their ambitious goals. Despite this setback, Hamilton will be eager to address the issues head-on and work with the team to correct them as quickly as possible.

Peter Windsor expressed his disbelief that Ferrari and Hamilton failed to resolve a crucial issue before their first official race together. It has been just over two months since Hamilton officially joined Ferrari, where he was warmly welcomed by the team, even managing to put smiles on their faces as he greeted each member. His early days at the team were marked by a minor setback when he crashed an older car during testing in Barcelona, but apart from that, everything had been relatively smooth leading up to the opening race.

The F1 expert’s surprise stems from the fact that Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton did not address a significant communication issue before the start of the season, an oversight that ultimately cost them during the Australian Grand Prix. This misstep has left many questioning the team’s preparation, especially considering the high expectations surrounding their collaboration.

With the Chinese Grand Prix fast approaching, Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton will not have much time to correct the issues that plagued them in Melbourne. The Shanghai circuit, with its permanent surface, may provide a better test for the SF25, as it is likely to favor the car’s high-speed characteristics compared to the more challenging, unconventional layout of Albert Park. The team will need to quickly adapt and find a solution to ensure they can maximize their performance in China and beyond.

Mar 20, 2025Alex Marino