Ferrari is facing mounting scrutiny after Jenson Button claimed a “fear culture” exists inside the team. Speaking at the Singapore Grand Prix, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion said that “everyone feels it’s easy to be pushed out the door,” pointing to the fragile internal environment.
Currently, Ferrari sits third in the 2025 constructors’ standings with 298 points. Mercedes leads the fight for second with 325, while McLaren sealed the Singapore win. The Italian team is under pressure with only six race weekends left, including three sprint events.
The arrival of Lewis Hamilton was expected to spark a title challenge. Instead, he has struggled to settle in, while the team hasn’t taken a single grand prix victory this season.
Button Highlights the Tension Inside Ferrari
“You can’t be afraid to fail. And that’s what it feels like at Ferrari. I think everyone feels it’s easy to be pushed out the door, and it’s not a nice feeling to have,” Button said to Sky Sports F1.
“You need to have consistency throughout the team. It gives everyone confidence, and the drivers confidence. So I hope that’s not the case next year. I hope that they see out the whole year together, because there’s going to be so much change for the first race, but also the 24th race of next year.
“So much is going to change throughout the year. So it’s a great team, and I think it has really good leadership, and you don’t get a better driver line-up than that, no?”
Button pointed out that while the season hasn’t been disastrous, it hasn’t lived up to expectations either. “It’s not been the season that they would have hoped [for]. Obviously, Lewis going to Ferrari, was expecting great things in 2025, and you always think, as a driver, that you can make the difference. But in this sport, you’re up against the best.
“So, it’s not been the best, but it hasn’t been horrific either. They just haven’t been consistently fighting the McLarens, but no one has. The only other person that has really, on a few occasions, is one individual, Max Verstappen.”
Fred Vasseur Pushes Back on Speculation
Earlier this season, speculation about team principal Fred Vasseur being under pressure surfaced ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. He strongly denied the claims.
“It’s not about myself, I think, because this I can manage,” Vasseur said at the time. “It’s more about the people of the team; I think it’s just disrespectful for them, for [their] families. We had the case last year with the chief of aero already.”
He continued: “I don’t know the target. I don’t understand the target. Perhaps it’s to give s**t to the team. But in this case, I don’t see the point. Perhaps it’s for them the only way to exist. This is probably more the reason, but it’s really hurting the team.
“At one stage, it’s a lack of focus, and when you are fighting for the championship, every single detail makes the difference. And from the beginning of the weekend, we are just speaking about this.
“If it’s their target to put the team in this situation, they reach their goal. But I think it’s not like this that we’ll be able to win a championship, at least not with this kind of journalist around us.”
With the season entering its decisive phase, Ferrari must find stability to close the gap to Mercedes. Hamilton’s adaptation, team morale, and internal clarity will play a decisive role in how their 2025 Formula 1 campaign ends.
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