‘Chronic’ Ferrari problem set to penalise Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Brazilian Grand Prix

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Charles Leclerc goes to the 2025 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix after securing back-to-back podiums, yet Lewis Hamilton’s wait for his first Ferrari podium may continue in Brazil.

The Scuderia have seen Leclerc take all seven of their Grand Prix podiums so far in the 2025 F1 season, with two P2 finishes and five P3 results. Hamilton has yet to finish a Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver higher than P4 through 20 race starts, for the worst run of his 19-year career.

Hamilton’s wait for his first podium finish as a Ferrari driver almost came to an end last time out at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Yet while Leclerc secured P2 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Hamilton’s 10s penalty in the Mexico City GP denied him a chance to finish third.

Leclerc also took P3 in the United States Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton, as the 40-year-old penned his fourth P4 finish of the year. Now, the season rolls into Brazil for the Sao Paulo GP at Interlagos, where Hamilton has taken three wins and seven podiums from 17 visits so far.

Ferrari’s lack of rotation could pose a big issue at the 2025 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix

But FunoAnalisiTecnica claims that Interlagos might expose the Ferrari SF-25’s ‘chronic’ lack of rotation. It is also likely to penalise Hamilton and Leclerc during not only this Sunday’s Sao Paulo GP, but also during the penultimate F1 Sprint of the 2025 season on Saturday in Brazil.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2025 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil

Ferrari have not found a solution through their set-ups that can improve the handling of the SF-25. It is particularly problematic for Hamilton and Leclerc when they need to brake with a degree of steering angle used, which they will have to do in Brazil to improve their lap times.

Interlagos’ Senna S (Turns 1 and 2) will especially be a source of concern for Ferrari heading into Friday’s Sprint Qualifying and qualifying for the Grand Prix on Saturday. The SF-25’s only reward for Hamilton and Leclerc might be in the acceleration phase exiting Juncao (Turn 12).

Rain on the forecast could help Lewis Hamilton to overcome Ferrari’s issues in Brazil

Brazil and Qatar will stage the final Sprints of 2025, and Sprints have offered Hamilton a rare source of joy since his move from Mercedes to Ferrari this term. Hamilton won the Sprint in China, was P3 in Miami and got P4 at COTA among the first four of this year’s 100km races.

Additionally, Hamilton could capitalise on the weather forecast for the 2025 Sao Paulo GP to overcome the Ferrari SF-25’s problems. Rain is forecast to potentially affect Sprint Qualifying on Friday, as well as both the Sprint in Brazil and qualifying for the Sao Paulo GP on Saturday.

Hamilton scored P3 in the Miami Sprint through judging the change from intermediate tyres to slicks perfectly, as the seven-time F1 champion rose from P6 on Lap 12/18 as the second driver to stop. Only Red Bull star Yuki Tsunoda switched onto dry tyres before Hamilton did.