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 Components 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 staff’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. Nonetheless, each drivers struggled with the SF-25’s stability all through the weekend, notably in race situations. Hamilton reported brake instability, claiming he had “no rear” grip throughout 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 stress with Charles Leclerc
Including gasoline to the fireplace, 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve expressed severe 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 staff seemed to be working on totally different wavelengths—a disunity that might significantly hinder any hope of closing the hole to Pink Bull and McLaren.
Leclerc had began the race on the laborious compound tyre and communicated by way of staff radio that he most well-liked to pursue a one-stop technique—internally known as “Plan C.” He appeared snug with this strategy. However, Ferrari made the choice to divert to “Plan B,” pitting Leclerc for one more set of hards earlier than finally switching to mediums on lap 53. The Monegasque was visibly annoyed after the race, questioning the logic behind a name that he had clearly disagreed with in the course of 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 motive force and staff lacked strategic alignment, and urged the Scuderia to “get their act collectively” in the event that they had been severe 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 turn out to be a recurring theme all through the 2025 season. In Canada, even Hamilton appeared puzzled by the staff’s tyre selections 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 via George Russell and a robust podium from rookie Kimi Antonelli. The stress has since intensified on staff principal Fred Vasseur, with experiences suggesting that Ferrari chairman John Elkann has grown impatient with the staff’s stagnation.
Fred Vasseur is reportedly going through a three-race window to display tangible enchancment. Failure to ship might set off management adjustments at Maranello. In the meantime, hypothesis about Leclerc’s long-term dedication to Ferrari has begun to floor. Though the Monegasque not too long ago instructed Nico Rosberg that the Ferrari staff boss was doing a “unbelievable job,” the tone inside the staff 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 Components 1 marketing campaign.
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