Jacques Villeneuve raises alarm over Charles Leclerc’s discontent as Ferrari’s technique falters once more in Canadian Grand Prix
Scuderia Ferrari endured one more irritating weekend within the 2025 System 1 season, leaving the Montreal Grand Prix on the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve with a lacklustre fifth and sixth-place end. Regardless of arriving in Canada with hopes of combating on the entrance, the Scuderia’s newest efficiency solely deepened considerations over the group’s strategic path and inner cohesion.
The difficulty started early when Charles Leclerc crashed throughout observe, interrupting his rhythm regardless of exhibiting promising tempo. He in the end certified a disappointing eighth, whereas teammate Lewis Hamilton managed to safe P5 on the grid. Nonetheless, each drivers struggled with the SF-25’s steadiness all through the weekend, notably in race situations. Hamilton reported brake instability, claiming he had “no rear” grip all through the Grand Prix.
Maybe most troubling for Ferrari was Lewis Hamilton’s lack of race tempo. The seven-time world champion was slower than each Williams automobiles and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, ending behind Charles Leclerc in sixth. If not for Lando Norris’ dramatic crash following a collision with teammate Oscar Piastri late within the race, Lewis Hamilton would have crossed the road in seventh. As soon as once more, an absence of competitiveness and additional confusion on the pit wall prevented Ferrari from mounting any significant problem.
Jacques Villeneuve criticises Ferrari technique amid rising rigidity with Charles Leclerc
Including gas to the hearth, 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve expressed critical concern over the seen disconnect between Charles Leclerc and Ferrari’s pit wall. The previous champion pointed to Canada as a troubling instance of how driver and group seemed to be working on totally different wavelengths—a disunity that might critically hinder any hope of closing the hole to Pink Bull and McLaren.
Leclerc had began the race on the laborious compound tyre and communicated through group radio that he most popular to pursue a one-stop technique—internally known as “Plan C.” He appeared comfy with this strategy. Nonetheless, Ferrari made the choice to divert to “Plan B,” pitting Leclerc for an additional set of hards earlier than finally switching to mediums on lap 53. The Monegasque was visibly pissed off after the race, questioning the logic behind a name that he had clearly disagreed with throughout the race.
Villeneuve, chatting with Sky Sports activities F1, famous that the disjointed communication between the Monegasque and the Ferrari engineers mirrored a deeper structural subject. He remarked that it was clear from the radio exchanges that the driving force and group lacked strategic alignment, and urged the Scuderia to “get their act collectively” in the event that they have been critical about rejoining the title struggle.
Leclerc’s frustration grows as scrutiny intensifies on Fred Vasseur’s management
Ferrari’s ongoing points with radio communication and inconsistent race methods have change into a recurring theme all through the 2025 season. In Canada, even Hamilton appeared puzzled by the group’s tyre decisions throughout qualifying, leaving observers questioning Ferrari’s decision-making processes.
Following the Montreal spherical, Ferrari ceded second place within the constructors’ standings to Mercedes, who secured a commanding win by way of George Russell and a robust podium from rookie Kimi Antonelli. The stress has since intensified on group principal Fred Vasseur, with studies suggesting that Ferrari chairman John Elkann has grown impatient with the group’s stagnation.
Fred Vasseur is reportedly dealing with a three-race window to exhibit tangible enchancment. Failure to ship may set off management modifications at Maranello. In the meantime, hypothesis about Leclerc’s long-term dedication to Ferrari has begun to floor. Though the Monegasque just lately instructed Nico Rosberg that the Ferrari group boss was doing a “improbable job,” the tone inside the group suggests in any other case. Charles Leclerc’s physique language and race-day frustrations point out that Ferrari should act swiftly in the event that they want to keep away from a deeper disaster and salvage what stays of their 2025 System 1 marketing campaign.
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