The 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years, with a fierce battle for the drivers‘ championship underway. Charles Leclerc Ferrari 2025 season efforts, alongside teammate Lewis Hamilton, have yet to produce a Grand Prix victory, a concern highlighted by former F1 race winner David Coulthard. As the season approaches its midpoint, the top teams outside Ferrari have already recorded race wins, placing increased pressure on the Italian contender.
Entering the 2025 campaign, Ferrari aimed to challenge McLaren for the championship after narrowly missing the title by 14 points the previous year. The Scuderia had amassed five race victories in 2024 and were expected to continue their success before the major regulation overhaul set for 2026. However, McLaren’s early consistency and speed have given them the advantage in both the drivers’ and constructors’ battles, leaving Ferrari chasing.
McLaren’s Early Dominance and Close Points Race Intensify Competition
McLaren’s performance this season has been impressive, quickly establishing themselves as the team to beat. Despite being beaten three times so far, McLaren holds a strong lead in the constructors’ championship, helped by the tight rivalry between teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Norris and Piastri are separated by only nine points after 14 race weekends, underscoring the competitiveness within the team and across the field.
The 2025 season is notable for its tightly packed grid, making qualifying sessions especially thrilling. Coulthard praised the balanced competition, noting how closely matched the teams are, which intensifies the anticipation around race weekends. However, he also emphasized that Ferrari and its leading drivers must raise their performance to create what he called a “perfect Hollywood season” in Formula 1.
“If you’re a McLaren fan, you’re loving the run that they’re having, but even if you’re a generalist, I think it’s a great season of F1. The closeness of the grid is the thing that’s really impressing me, especially in Qualifying. Obviously come race time it opens up a little bit, but I’m just loving how close this season is.”
“To have a perfect Hollywood season, we need Ferrari doing a bit more. I know we got the little excitement with Lewis in the Sprint, but they obviously got disqualified on race day.”
—David Coulthard, Former F1 Race Winner
Charles Leclerc Leads Ferrari Amid Ongoing Team Rivalry with Hamilton
Among Ferrari’s drivers, Charles Leclerc has emerged as the clear frontrunner through the first half of the 2025 season. Despite Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari this year, Leclerc has outpaced the seven-time world champion, accumulating 151 points compared to Hamilton’s 109. Leclerc’s familiarity with the Ferrari SF-25 car and his ongoing presence with the team in Maranello have contributed to his strong showing.
Yet, this intra-team dynamic is expected to evolve. Former driver Juan Pablo Montoya suggested that as Ferrari fine-tunes the car to better suit Hamilton’s driving style, Leclerc might face stiffer challenges. Montoya hinted at greater competition between the teammates as the season progresses and Hamilton grows more comfortable with the car.
“Charles looks very quick because he can handle the car’s behaviour. I think that as Ferrari adjusts the car more to Lewis’ style and he gets comfortable, life will get harder for Charles. So far, it hasn’t been too tough for him, but we’ll see.”
—Juan Pablo Montoya, Former F1 Driver
Constructors’ Standings and the Road Ahead for Ferrari in 2025
Currently, Ferrari holds second place in the constructors’ championship, sitting just ahead of rivals Mercedes and Red Bull. The team remains a strong contender despite the setbacks, but the need for race victories is urgent if Ferrari wants to challenge McLaren and secure the championship before the 2026 regulations shift the landscape.
With qualifying grids tighter than ever and a season full of unexpected moments, the performance of both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will be critical to Ferrari’s success. Their ability to close the gap to McLaren and convert strong performances into race wins could define the trajectory of the 2025 season. How the team manages internal competition and car development from this point forward will be decisive for its hopes of delivering a flawless championship run.
