Why Ferrari's F1 Struggles Aren't as Bad as You Think: Insider Finds Positives During Disappointing 2025
Ferrari F1 Lewis Hamilton Charles Leclerc Fred Vasseur
F1's 2025 season has been a wild ride for Ferrari, with the Italian media ready to write off the team's campaign. Between team drama, the focus on Sir Lewis Hamilton's struggles and Team Principal Fred Vasseur's future in question, the Tifosi haven't had much to celebrate.
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But don't fret, says F1 insider Jon Massengale, host of F1 content on SiriusXM, on the latest episode of the Sportsnaut Interview podcast. Massengale sees a silver lining where others see only storm clouds. While Ferrari scraps for second place in the constructors' standings (they are currently third after the Canadian Grand Prix), Massengale's grounded optimism cuts through the fatalism, offering fans a reason to keep the faith.
'Ferrari is still fast, right? They're still up there in the hunt for what I'm gonna call second in the constructors championship because McLaren's pretty much got it wrapped up,' Massengale said.
He doesn't shy away from the team's blunders—take the Chinese Grand Prix, where a double disqualification stung—but he's not buying the narrative of a team in freefall.
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'They've had a couple of mistakes, you know, missteps… but overall I would say Ferrari is way better than they used to be,' he added.
The Italian press has been brutal, with whispers about team boss Fred Vasseur's job on the line. Massengale, though, isn't having it.
'I feel like Fred's done a pretty good job,' Massengale says, emphasizing that Ferrari's car still has the pace to compete, even if it's not quite at McLaren or Mercedes' level. 'The car's fast, it's just not up there right now with McLaren or potentially Mercedes.'
Reflecting on Ferrari's past, Massengale noted, 'It used to be a running joke how many mistakes they made.' Today, he sees a team that's 'still fighting,' far from the punchline it once was. In a sport where every team chases perfection, Massengale's perspective is a call to focus on progress, not just pitfalls, as Ferrari charges toward a brighter future.
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Related: Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari: Another Sunday, Another Struggle
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