Ferrari’s upgrade drought continues: no major changes for Austrian Grand Prix

Despite mounting pressure on Fred Vasseur and ongoing struggles from Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari plans no significant upgrades for the Austrian Grand Prix, deepening fan frustration amid a 191-point deficit to McLaren after 10 races. This report unpacks the internal challenges, leadership speculation, and strategic missteps shaping Ferrari’s turbulent 2025 F1 campaign.

Sources:
The RaceMotorcyclesportsPlanetf1+2
Updated 4h ago
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Sources: SportskeedaThe RacePlanetf1+1
Ferrari's upgrade drought continues as the team prepares for the Austrian Grand Prix with only minor tweaks expected, no major changes planned. This ongoing stagnation has intensified pressure on team principal Fred Vasseur amid disappointing performances from the SF-25 car.

Despite a promising 2024 season, Ferrari trails McLaren by a staggering 191 points after 10 races, highlighting a significant drop in competitiveness. The SF-25's lack of rhythm and poor tyre strategy have been key issues, with Charles Leclerc frustrated over team decisions that compromised his race.

Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari for the 2025 season, has struggled to meet expectations, failing to secure a podium in his first 10 races and describing the car as "like someone that can’t dance, and someone that has no rhythm."

"No upgrades half season is absolutely shocking," said critics, reflecting fan disappointment.

Vasseur remains under scrutiny, with speculation about his future and potential replacements like Antonello Coletta emerging. The team acknowledges the need to improve race weekend execution to compete for wins.

Hamilton himself noted, "The mindset for me, I’m like ‘there’s a lot of changes that need to be made in the system.’"

With the Austrian GP approaching, Ferrari's cautious approach to upgrades signals a challenging path ahead as they seek to regain competitiveness in a fiercely contested Formula 1 season.
Sources: SportskeedaThe RacePlanetf1
Ferrari continues its upgrade drought with no major changes planned for the Austrian Grand Prix, amid growing pressure on team principal Fred Vasseur. Despite hopes for improvement, the SF-25 struggles with performance and strategy, leaving Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc behind rivals like McLaren and Red Bull.
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The Headline

Ferrari’s 2025 struggles deepen with no major upgrades

Key Facts
  • Fred Vasseur joined Ferrari as team principal in December 2022, leading the team to a strong 2024 season where they finished just 14 points behind McLaren in the Constructors' Championship.Planetf1
  • Ferrari started the 2025 season poorly, trailing McLaren by 191 points after the Canadian Grand Prix, the 10th race of the campaign.Planetf1
  • Lewis Hamilton, signed for 2025, has struggled with no podiums in his first 10 races, marking his worst F1 start despite a Sprint pole and victory in China.Planetf1Motorcyclesports
  • Hamilton’s best result was fourth place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, finishing 14 seconds behind race winner Max Verstappen.Planetf1
  • Fernando Alonso expressed confusion over Hamilton’s struggles, comparing them to his own past challenges at Mercedes alongside George Russell.MotorcyclesportsPlanetf1
  • Fans and insiders criticized Ferrari’s lack of major upgrades mid-season, calling the upgrade path “absolutely shocking” and describing the car as “like someone that can’t dance, and someone that has no rhythm.”Sportskeeda
  • Fred Vasseur admitted Ferrari made too many mistakes collectively during race weekends, including errors in qualifying, crashes, and poor tyre strategy.Motorsport
  • Charles Leclerc publicly disagreed with the team over tyre strategies, preferring a one-stop race but was converted to a two-stopper, which led to frustrating finishes.Motorsport
  • Vasseur stated Ferrari was the distant fourth-quickest team in Canada, with drivers finishing fifth and sixth respectively.Motorsport
  • Speculation grew about Vasseur’s future, with Antonello Coletta, head of Ferrari’s World Endurance Championship operation, emerging as the favorite replacement candidate.Planetf1
  • Vasseur expressed frustration over rumors about his position, emphasizing the harm to the team’s concentration and environment.Planetf1
  • Ferrari is not expected to bring major upgrades for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, disappointing fans further despite minor tweaks planned.Sportskeeda
The growing pressure in the Italian media on Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is the topic for the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast.
The Race
The Race
Speculations point fingers at various factors within the team, including team principal Fred Vasseur and the technical team, but the exact root of the problem remains elusive.
Motorcyclesports
Motorcyclesports
However, according to _Motorsport.com Italia_, the Italian giant is slated to bring in minor tweaks for the European race weekend: Twitter Embed · | Ferrari not expected to bring major upgrades for Austria could suit the SF-25’s characteristics better, so only minor changes are expected instead of big updates.
Planetf1
Sportskeeda
Witnessing this, fans were taken aback by the Scuderia not delivering a single major upgrade package within the first half of the season: > "No upgrades half season is absolutely shocking."
Sportskeeda
Sportskeeda
A quick look at the results shows Ferrari was a distant fourth-quickest team in Canada, with and in no man's land as they respectively finished fifth and sixth.
Motorsport
Motorsport
Key Stats at a Glance
Points behind McLaren in 2024 Constructors' Championship
14 points
Planetf1
Points behind McLaren after 10 races in 2025
191 points
Planetf1
Hamilton's podiums in first 10 races with Ferrari
0 podiums
Planetf1
Hamilton's best race finish and gap
14 seconds
Planetf1
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Background Context

Ferrari surprised by Le Mans #50 car disqualification

Key Facts
  • Ferrari expressed surprise over the disqualification of their #50 car at the Le Mans 24 Hours event, issuing an official statement on the matter.Planetf1
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