Another MAJOR blow inbound for Hamilton and Ferrari

20:58, 11 Jul

Updated: 21:01, 11 Jul

byLuke-John Buckle

Ferrari have endured a difficult start to the season as the Scuderia are yet to win a Grand Prix after 12 rounds.

The Italian team went into this season with some level of optimism after missing out on the Constructors' title last season by a mere 14 points margin to champions McLaren, and with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton having been signed to partner Charles Leclerc.

This hasn't been followed up with consistent podium finishes in Grands Prix despite Hamilton winning the Sprint in China.

Ferrari had to wait until Saudi Arabia to take their first podium of the year in a Grand Prix as Leclerc drove to third place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Hamilton has also suffered a difficult start to life with the Italian team, as the Sprint win in China turned out to be a flash in the pan.

This has prompted team boss Frederic Vasseur to concede the Constructors' Championship to McLaren.

The Frenchman said that even a perfect end to the year may not be enough to clinch their first constructors title since 2008.

Vasseur is turning his attention to the battle with Mercedes and Red Bull

He said: “And even if you win all the races until the end, I'm not even sure that you will be champion in that for sure. But we are still in the fight with Mercedes and Red Bull. We are still in the fight to win some races, and it's important for the team.”

As Ferrari have struggled to deal with the SF-25, McLaren have surged ahead and now hold a commanding 238-point advantage over the Italian team in the standings.

McLaren are likely to win the Constructors' Championship and Ferrari are now locked in a three-way duel for second place.

They hold a slim 12-point lead over Mercedes and a 50-point advantage ahead of Red Bull, who have just sacked Christian Horner.

McLaren have a significant advantage over the rest of the field and Vasseur conceded that it will be difficult to get on terms with the British team.

He said: “I think we are all lucid that it will be more than difficult to come back on McLaren,” Vasseur conceded. “First they have an advantage, sometimes on some tracks or some conditions we are able to fight with them, but overall, they have an advantage, and also they have a big advantage in terms of championship."