Ferrari’s Struggles Proceed as Nico Rosberg Reveals Talks of UK Base to Help Lewis Hamilton
Scuderia Ferrari sadly look like caught in a irritating sample: each time they edge near ending their long-standing championship drought, a sudden downturn derails their progress. The Scuderia final claimed a System 1 title in 2008, once they secured the constructors’ crown whereas Lewis Hamilton narrowly clinched the drivers’ championship for McLaren. Since then, their near-misses have been quite a few—and painful.
In 2010, Fernando Alonso arrived on the remaining spherical in Abu Dhabi because the title favorite, solely to be outmanoeuvred by Sebastian Vettel, who claimed his first championship. A 12 months later, Ferrari managed only one victory, and though they once more challenged Vettel within the dramatic 2012 finale, they had been left properly behind in 2013, trailing Crimson Bull by practically 250 factors.
This recurring cycle has develop into an indicator of the post-title Ferrari period. Vettel, having moved to Ferrari, reignited hope in 2017 and 2018 with a severe problem to Mercedes and Hamilton, however the momentum shortly dissipated. The identical sample emerged once more below present staff boss Fred Vasseur. In 2024, Ferrari got here inside 14 factors of toppling McLaren, reigniting perception inside Maranello. Nevertheless, simply 10 races into the 2025 season, they now path their rivals by a staggering 191 factors within the constructors’ standings.
Nico Rosberg Believes Ferrari Could Set up a UK-Primarily based F1 Facility
Regardless of quite a few shut calls over the previous 17 years, Ferrari’s shortcomings can’t be solely attributed to dangerous luck. The staff has cycled via a number of principals and management kinds, casting doubt on whether or not one other administration change—equivalent to changing Fred Vasseur—would genuinely handle the underlying points.
As a substitute, former world champion Nico Rosberg believes {that a} structural transformation could also be required. In response to Rosberg, Ferrari are contemplating establishing a UK-based engineering and operations hub—a daring step that would align them extra carefully with the F1 trade’s central infrastructure. The UK stays the beating coronary heart of System 1, dwelling to seven of the ten groups and nearly all of the game’s technical expertise.
Nico Rosberg defined throughout an look on The F1 Present that his perception into Ferrari’s inside workings revealed noticeable gaps in effectivity and tradition in comparison with main British groups. He claimed that Ferrari’s construction, deeply rooted in Italy, created challenges that British-based operations didn’t face. He famous that decision-making at groups like Mercedes—the place communication between Toto Wolff and Hamilton was swift and direct—stood in stark distinction to the extra layered and slower processes at Ferrari.
Nico Rosberg additional prompt that even Lewis Hamilton has discovered it troublesome to navigate Ferrari’s inner paperwork, with unclear strains of command and slower operational responses. He revealed that whispers within the paddock pointed to Ferrari exploring the thought of opening a UK subsidiary, one that would function in tandem with their Maranello headquarters. Nevertheless, he warned that profitable execution would require flawless communication between the 2 areas—one thing that would show troublesome to attain.
Relocation Might Enhance Hamilton and Leclerc—however Communication Stays Key
If Ferrari had been to ascertain a UK facility, the potential advantages for each Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc may very well be vital. Finding technical workers within the so-called “motorsport valley” would possibly assist Ferrari appeal to top-tier engineers who’re in any other case reluctant to relocate their lives to Italy. This might additionally streamline collaboration with present suppliers and companions already primarily based within the UK.
Ferrari’s current failure to safe the companies of design guru Adrian Newey is a major instance of this recruitment problem. The legendary automotive designer finally selected Aston Martin over Ferrari, drawn partially by the Silverstone-based staff’s handy location—only a quick distance from his long-time base at Crimson Bull Racing.
Lewis Hamilton, who has joined Ferrari for the 2025 season, is known to have a contract extension choice that would see him stick with the staff via 2027. If the UK base plan had been to materialize, it’d align with the long-term venture timeline that the British driver is anticipated to decide to. Audi, as an example, introduced their UK enlargement plans earlier this 12 months and are already anticipated to open their new base earlier than the top of 2025—demonstrating how shortly such initiatives can transfer when backed by urgency and assets.
But whereas Lewis Hamilton has publicly supported Fred Vasseur, his current media feedback have positioned the Ferrari staff boss in a troublesome spot. On one hand, Hamilton continues to demand short-term automotive upgrades to stay aggressive. On the opposite, he’s urged the staff to pivot their focus towards the sweeping regulation modifications coming in 2026. For a staff like Ferrari, even with their huge assets, managing each fronts concurrently could also be stretching them skinny.
Finally, the suggestion that Ferrari may be a part of nearly all of F1 groups by establishing a UK operation marks a probably vital shift in philosophy. Whether or not this could lastly assist them break the cycle of near-misses and fulfill Lewis Hamilton’s championship ambitions stays to be seen—however it might be the form of structural rethink the staff has lengthy wanted.
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