During the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Ferrariteam principal Frederic Vasseur sparked controversy by asserting that Lewis Hamilton demonstrated faster pace than Charles Leclerc throughout the weekend. This statement triggered a strong response from fans, who pointed out that Leclerc finished ahead of both his teammate and other competitors while maintaining consistent speed during the race.
The Italian GP marked a disappointing moment for Ferrari as none of their drivers reached the podium for the first time in several seasons. The SF-25 car has shown little competitiveness this year, and Hamilton has encountered difficulties adjusting to its driving characteristics. Despite a promising start to the weekend with strong practice times, Ferrari’s performance slipped, leaving them trailing behind the leading teams as the race commenced.
Race Recap Highlighting Driver Performances and Race Conditions
At the start of the race, Ferrari drivers initially occupied strong positions, but as the laps progressed, they fell to third and fourth spots compared to the dominant Red Bulls and McLarens. Hamilton began in 10th place due to a grid penalty and worked his way up to 6th, unable to overtake George Russell, while Leclerc secured an impressive 4th place after intense battles on track.
Reflecting on these results, Frederic Vasseur highlighted Hamilton’s performance, stating,
Image of: Charles Leclerc
“At the end of the day, Lewis’s pace was better from the start compared to Charles’s. During the race, he battled with Russell, which allowed him to come back to a better position,”
he said.
However, social media users and fans debated this perspective, contending that Leclerc showed superior pace not only at Monza but throughout the entire season. Many fans accused Vasseur of being out of touch with the realities of the team’s performance.
Vasseur also suggested that Ferrari’s gap to McLaren, the World Championshipleaders at the time, was minimal during the race, a claim that drew further criticism from followers of the sport.
Lewis Hamilton Acknowledges Ferrari Lacked the Speed to Challenge McLaren
Max Verstappen’s dominant form continued as he secured victory, setting new records for the fastest Formula 1qualifyinglap and the shortest race duration, finishing the Italian Grand Prix in just over 73 minutes. Verstappen’s Red Bull, along with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri of McLaren, controlled the race pace, leaving Ferrari behind.
Hamilton admitted that Ferrari was not competitive enough to match the front runners. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said,
“I didn’t deserve to be on the podium today so I won’t be going to the podium but I’ll probably go out to the wall to see (all the fans),”
confirming his acceptance of the team’s limitations.
He further emphasized the challenge by noting,
“Charles was giving it everything. Max is up there now. We don’t have the pace of Red Bull – today they were rapid – and we don’t have the pace of McLaren. So I think we are fourth, fifth. If we do an exceptional job we can maybe get a podium here or there. There’s a chance we can have that but in terms of pure pace we don’t have that.”
This contrasted sharply with Vasseur’s optimistic remarks about the gap to McLaren, underscoring the tensions and uncertainties within Ferrari’s camp.
The Ongoing Battle in the Constructors’ Championship and Ferrari’s Outlook
Ferrari remains second in the Constructors’ Championship, locked in a close fight with Mercedes for that position, but their recent struggles have raised questions about their ability to mount a credible challenge against Red Bull and McLaren. The results from Monza highlighted the pace deficit Ferrari continues to face, casting doubt on their prospects for podium finishes in upcoming races without significant improvements.
Charles Leclerc’s performance throughout the season, coupled with ongoing debates about driver pace within the team, adds pressure on Ferrari’s management to address car performance issues. How the team responds in future Grands Prix could heavily influence the championship standings and driver morale.
