As Formula 1 returns to the United States for the penultimate round of the season, Ferrari finds itself in a precarious position. The Scuderia has struggled to match the pace of rivals Mercedes and Red Bull, leaving Charles Leclerc to admit feeling like a "passenger" in the car. With only six races remaining in 2025, the question looms large: what can Ferrari realistically hope to achieve in the closing stages of their underwhelming season?
Following the Singapore Grand Prix, where Ferrari finished a distant sixth—46 seconds behind race-winner George Russell—Leclerc delivered a blunt assessment: "Unfortunately, we are now the fourth team and solidly the fourth team." The Monegasque driver’s honesty highlights the stark reality: Ferrari trails behind not just championship leaders McLaren but also Mercedes and Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.
The upcoming USA-Mexico doubleheader carries added significance for Ferrari, as they return to circuits where they last tasted victory in 2024. However, the team’s recent performance suggests a repeat of those triumphs may be out of reach. In Singapore, brake issues hampered both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, while Mercedes and Red Bull secured a comfortable 1-2 finish—further widening the gap Ferrari must now close.
Leclerc’s frustration stems from Ferrari’s inability to match the upgrades of their rivals. While Red Bull and Mercedes have introduced performance-enhancing updates in recent races—such as Red Bull’s floor upgrade in Monza and Mercedes’ revised front wing—Ferrari has lagged behind. This has left the Scuderia battling for scraps rather than podiums.
"We didn’t manage to do [the upgrades] so it’s going to be a long end to the season," Leclerc acknowledged. The numbers support his pessimism: in the last four races, Ferrari has scored just 38 points—less than half of Red Bull (96) and Mercedes (89), and even trailing McLaren (91) and Williams (32).
With the constructors’ title already secured by McLaren, the fight for second place has intensified. After briefly holding the position earlier in the season, Ferrari now risks slipping to fourth—a far cry from their preseason ambitions. While Leclerc remains mathematically in contention for the drivers’ championship, the gap to the leaders is insurmountable.
As Ferrari prepares for the United States GP, where every session will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, the team faces a critical juncture. With no major upgrades expected before 2026, their best hope may be to stabilize their position and avoid further setbacks. Still, the return to Austin—a track where they won last year—offers a glimmer of hope. Can Ferrari rediscover their winning touch, or will the final races of 2025 be a damage-limitation exercise?
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