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 Method 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 preventing on the entrance, the Scuderia’s newest efficiency solely deepened considerations over the crew’s strategic route and inner cohesion.
The difficulty started early when Charles Leclerc crashed throughout observe, interrupting his rhythm regardless of exhibiting promising tempo. He finally certified a disappointing eighth, whereas teammate Lewis Hamilton managed to safe P5 on the grid. Nevertheless, 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 in the course of 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 vehicles 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, a scarcity 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 fireplace, 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 crew gave the impression to be working on completely 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 exhausting compound tyre and communicated by way of crew radio that he most well-liked to pursue a one-stop technique—internally known as “Plan C.” He appeared comfy with this method. However, Ferrari made the choice to divert to “Plan B,” pitting Leclerc for an additional set of hards earlier than ultimately 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 in the course of the race.
Villeneuve, talking to Sky Sports activities F1, famous that the disjointed communication between the Monegasque and the Ferrari engineers mirrored a deeper structural concern. He remarked that it was clear from the radio exchanges that the driving force and crew lacked strategic alignment, and urged the Scuderia to “get their act collectively” in the event that they have been critical about rejoining the title combat.
Leclerc’s frustration grows as scrutiny intensifies on Fred Vasseur’s management
Ferrari’s ongoing points with radio communication and inconsistent race methods have grow to be a recurring theme all through the 2025 season. In Canada, even Hamilton appeared puzzled by the crew’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 means of George Russell and a robust podium from rookie Kimi Antonelli. The strain has since intensified on crew principal Fred Vasseur, with stories suggesting that Ferrari chairman John Elkann has grown impatient with the crew’s stagnation.
Fred Vasseur is reportedly going through a three-race window to show 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 crew boss was doing a “incredible job,” the tone inside the crew 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 Method 1 marketing campaign.
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