Ferrari Shakes Up the F1 Leaderboard
Things got interesting in the 2025 Formula 1 season after the Spanish Grand Prix. Ferrari, a team that had spent the early part of this year fighting bad luck and even a humiliating disqualification in China, suddenly found themselves in second place in the constructors' standings. This jump came thanks to Charles Leclerc’s run to third in Spain and Lewis Hamilton’s steady sixth, giving Ferrari just enough points to leapfrog both Mercedes and Red Bull.
The man steering the ship, Team Principal Fred Vasseur, didn’t hold back how he feels about their progress. Snapping up second place is nice, he said, and “I prefer to be second than fourth or fifth.” That’s pure Vasseur — blunt and honest. He knows this climb up the standings is a relief for a team that’s had its share of headaches right out of the gate. Just a few races earlier, Ferrari was dropped behind their main rivals after a controversial scrutineering call in China. Back then, even just matching Mercedes or Red Bull in points seemed like a tall order.
But the story isn’t just about collecting points. Leclerc has become a regular sight on the podium, shaking off early-season gremlins. Hamilton — in his first year at Ferrari — has chipped in reliably, bagging points at every opportunity and never once looking like he’s phoning it in. Ferrari’s surge shows what consistency and a bit of mid-season grit can do for a team on the ropes.
Eyes on McLaren as Ferrari Sets Its Sights Higher
Of course, for a team with Ferrari’s history, second place isn’t something to brag about. Vasseur made that clear. The Ferrari boss kept things in perspective, pointing to the scoreboard — McLaren is still firmly in control at the top. The reality is, Ferrari hasn’t been able to touch them when it comes to raw speed. Vasseur’s main concern is what happens on Saturdays: qualifying. If Ferrari wants to swap cheering second-place trophies for standing at the very top, they have to figure out how to start higher up the grid.
The difference between winning and just taking home medals often comes down to those crucial qualifying laps. Vasseur knows it’s not about fancy strategies or lucky safety cars. It’s about shaving tenths in qualifying, lining up on the front row, and not relying on miracles to claw forward during the race.
This turnaround isn’t just luck; it’s a sign that Ferrari’s engineers are finally getting a handle on this year’s car. The mood in Maranello is cautious but hopeful. They’re not declaring any sort of victory lap. Instead, Vasseur is keeping his crew focused on upgrades and process, rather than getting distracted by the shifting positions in the championship table.
Yes, Ferrari fans are finally seeing red cars battling up front more regularly, but nobody at the Scuderia is satisfied. For Vasseur and his team, climbing to second isn’t cause for celebration — it’s motivation to chase McLaren with even more urgency as the season heats up.
