Written by The Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team carries one of the richest histories in motorsport. With legendary drivers such as Nikki Lauda, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and now in 2025, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Ferrari has been defined by iconic drivers and championship-winning moments. Yet, in recent years, this legacy has come under scrutiny following several seasons marked by inconsistent car performance and questionable strategic decisions.
The 2025 season has been no exception. Despite notable achievements such as Charles Leclerc’s podium finishes in Mexico and Austin, Ferrari remains winless this year, apart from Lewis Hamilton’s spring victory in Shanghai. A winless season coming up on the heels of one where Ferrari could have won the constructor’s championship (Saunders, 2025). Their cars seem to have inconsistent boosts in performance, followed by dips . With Formula 1’s increasing transparency, allowing viewers to hear team radio communications, it is clear both drivers have been candid in voicing their frustrations about the car’s performance.
Following a difficult weekend in Brazil, Ferrari CEO John Elkann made a comment stating that the Ferrari driver duo need to “talk less,” and “focus on driving,” (Saunders, 2025). The remarks came despite both drivers retiring from the race due to circumstances beyond their control. The events of the Brazilian Grand Prix were no doubt tragic for the Scuderia Ferrari team, causing them to drop to fourth place in the constructor’s championship. However, neither driver was at fault for the damage that caused them to drop out of the race (Saunders, 2025).
Elkann’s public remarks highlight a deeper issue with the culture at Ferrari. Highlighting that the team’s struggles cannot only be attributed to performance and set-up, but also communication and trust. Formula 1 teams rely on real-time data from car telemetry and driver feedback during all sessions over the weekend, highlighting the importance of mutual respect and communication between drivers, engineers, and leadership. Thus, it is undoubtedly important that Ferrari find ways to effectively facilitate constructive communication in order to help improve car performance in upcoming seasons.
Research supports this need for cultural change indicating that team accountability is strongly related to commitment and trust (Stewart, Snyder, & Kou, 2023). Furthermore, the same study found that accountability increases effort, cooperation within the team, suggesting that when leaders own both successes and failures, motivation to improve or to continue performing (Stewart et al., 2023). For Ferrari, embracing a culture of accountability at the executive level could repair internal dynamics and set a precedent for other elite teams operating under pressure.
Specifically, leaders of athletic teams can focus on fostering an open channel for communication, and provide a safe space for criticism of decisions made by team executives. Furthermore, coaches and captains must learn to take accountability for not only the successes of the team, but also for the failures, in order to present a united front of winning and losing together.
Ultimately, while the 2025 may be winless for Ferrari, it has also been a great learning experience for the team, and could serve as a pivotal moment of transformation. the Scuderia have the opportunity to rebuild trust, reinforce their legacy, and get back to winning championships.
References
Saunders, N. (2025, November 11). Spiraling ferrari points finger at Hamilton, Leclerc. TSN. https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/formula-1/article/spiraling-ferrari-points-finger-at-hamilton-leclerc-n1-46929377/
Stewart, V.R., Snyder, D.G. & Kou, CY. We Hold Ourselves Accountable: A Relational View of Team Accountability. J Bus Ethics 183, 691–712 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04969-z