Ferrari’s Struggles Proceed as Nico Rosberg Reveals Talks of UK Base to Assist Lewis Hamilton
Scuderia Ferrari sadly seem 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 Method 1 title in 2008, after 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 have been left nicely 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 rapidly dissipated. The identical sample emerged once more underneath present group 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 Might 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 group has cycled by way of a number of principals and management kinds, casting doubt on whether or not one other administration change—equivalent to changing Fred Vasseur—would genuinely deal with the underlying points.
As an alternative, former world champion Nico Rosberg believes {that a} structural transformation could also be required. In accordance with Rosberg, Ferrari are contemplating establishing a UK-based engineering and operations hub—a daring step that might align them extra carefully with the F1 business’s central infrastructure. The UK stays the beating coronary heart of Method 1, house 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 internal 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 steered that even Lewis Hamilton has discovered it tough to navigate Ferrari’s inner paperwork, with unclear traces of command and slower operational responses. He revealed that whispers within the paddock pointed to Ferrari exploring the concept of opening a UK subsidiary, one that might function in tandem with their Maranello headquarters. Nevertheless, he warned that profitable execution would require flawless communication between the 2 areas—one thing that might show tough to attain.
Relocation May Increase Hamilton and Leclerc—however Communication Stays Key
If Ferrari have been to ascertain a UK facility, the potential advantages for each Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc might be important. 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 current suppliers and companions already based mostly within the UK.
Ferrari’s current failure to safe the companies of design guru Adrian Newey is a chief instance of this recruitment problem. The legendary automotive designer in the end selected Aston Martin over Ferrari, drawn partly by the Silverstone-based group’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 might see him stick with the group by way of 2027. If the UK base plan have been to materialize, it would align with the long-term undertaking timeline that the British driver is predicted to decide to. Audi, for example, introduced their UK enlargement plans earlier this 12 months and are already anticipated to open their new base earlier than the tip of 2025—demonstrating how rapidly such initiatives can transfer when backed by urgency and sources.
But whereas Lewis Hamilton has publicly supported Fred Vasseur, his current media feedback have positioned the Ferrari group boss in a tough spot. On one hand, Hamilton continues to demand short-term automotive upgrades to stay aggressive. On the opposite, he’s urged the group to pivot their focus towards the sweeping regulation modifications coming in 2026. For a group like Ferrari, even with their huge sources, managing each fronts concurrently could also be stretching them skinny.
In the end, the suggestion that Ferrari may be a part of nearly all of F1 groups by establishing a UK operation marks a doubtlessly important shift in philosophy. Whether or not this may lastly assist them break the cycle of near-misses and fulfill Lewis Hamilton’s championship ambitions stays to be seen—however it could be the sort of structural rethink the group has lengthy wanted.
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