Ferrari continues to struggle with problems that have affected both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc throughout the current Formula 1 season. The Scuderia’s SF-25 car was expected to end the team’s long title drought, but results have not met expectations as of mid-2025. Jacques Villeneuve has identified a key reason for Ferrari’s ongoing difficulties and has urged the team to replace the race engineers working with Hamilton and Leclerc immediately, to improve performance and driver confidence.
Villeneuve shared his views during a Sky Sports F1 broadcast at the start of FP3 on August 30. When asked what three changes he would recommend for Ferrari to revive their season, he stated simply:
Change the two engineers. Find engineers who actually gel with the drivers and give them the freedom to work with the drivers. Simple.
David Croft, the broadcast’s lead commentator, suggested minimizing interference by placing the right people in these positions. Villeneuve added that the drivers and engineers should be allowed to work together without external influences forcing a unified strategy on both cars.
Villeneuve said,
“
No, let them work, let them do what they’re supposed to be doing,
”
and when prompted about what would follow this change, he responded with, “Hope and pray, I guess.”
Current Engineer Relationships and Their Impact on Performance
The interactions between Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and their race engineers have become a focal point during Ferrari’s difficult season. Both drivers have voiced frustrations during races, compounded by technical and strategic challenges. Hamilton, now working alongside Riccardo Adami after ending a long partnership with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes, appears to be in need of a better connection with his engineering team. Similarly, Leclerc’s collaboration with Bryan Bozzi has not delivered the expected progress.
Ferrari’s struggles in 2025 have raised questions about whether these engineer-driver pairings are limiting the drivers’ potential. Despite the hopes placed on Hamilton’s arrival to complete the team’s puzzle, Ferrari has yet to claim a victory this year, with McLaren continuing to outperform them. Fred Vasseur’s recent multi-year contract to lead Ferrari signals continuity but also adds pressure to make swift and effective changes, including reassessing race engineer assignments.
Implications for Ferrari’s Future and Season Outlook
As the 2025 season moves forward without a win for Ferrari, the tension surrounding the team’s internal dynamics grows. Villeneuve’s recommendation to overhaul Hamilton and Leclerc’s race engineer relationships highlights the need for stronger communication and mutual trust between drivers and their support staff. Failure to address these issues could prolong Ferrari’s struggles, especially with rule changes expected next year that might provide fresh opportunities for success.
Vasseur faces a pivotal moment leading Ferrari into a new era, where strategic decisions regarding team structure could determine whether the Scuderia regains competitive dominance. The choice of race engineers and how they collaborate with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be crucial factors in Ferrari’s ongoing battle to reclaim glory in Formula 1.
