Ferrari shocked the F1 world at the start of February when it was announced that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton would replace current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz for the 2025 season. Fresh of extending Charles Leclerc’s contract for multiple years, the team did not renew Sainz, making this upcoming season his last with the historic team. With still a year left to go as teammates, Sainz and Leclerc are more determined than ever to win after an unfortunate 2023 season.
Ferrari ended the season in third place in the Constructor Standings, just three points behind Mercedes after George Russell managed to score a podium finish in the last race of the season. Leclerc ended fifth in the Drivers’ Championship, a disappointing result for the man who was subchampion in 2022 and who is determined to win Ferrari’s first world championship since 2007. Despite being the only non-Red Bull winner of the past season, Sainz ended up in seventh place after bouts of bad luck in the last races of the year.
The Italian team launched the SF-24 on Feb. 13, showing off a signature red car with flashes of black exposed carbon fiber and white and yellow stripes to match the colors of their long-time partner Shell. The livery also bears the logos of their other sponsors, among them Santander Bank, the luxury glasses brand Ray-Ban, watchmakers Richard Mille and PUMA. The team has also painted the wheel rims red, yellow and white this year, featuring another pop of color. The Ferrari will definitely be a stand-out in the grid, as it always is, catching the spectators’ attention no matter how it performs.
Hopefully, it will perform well. Often criticized for their poor strategies, slow pit stops, and tire degradation, Ferrari is looking for more consistency and driveability in their car this year. Technical Director Enrico Cardile says they have completely redesigned the car to provide better results, eager to catch up to Red Bull Racing. Frédéric Vasseur enters his second season leading Ferrari as Team Principal and with him comes a lot of changes in approach and performance. His biggest change is bringing Hamilton to the team next year, after more than a decade of being the face of Mercedes.
Sainz has affirmed his commitment to the Scuderia despite his replacement and as for Leclerc, whom Ferrari fans fondly call ‘Il Predestinato’ (The Predestined), the dream of returning Ferrari to its championship-winning days continues.
