During the Hungarian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc’s race performance dramatically declined due to a handling problem with Ferrari’s SF-25. After leading from pole position, a change made during his second pit stop disrupted the car’s balance, causing Leclerc to fall from first place and eventually finish fourth. Ferrari revealed this issue ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, linking it to a car adjustment intended to prevent excessive plank wear, which could have led to disqualification.
Leclerc began the race strongly but encountered significant difficulties after the second stop in Budapest. The adjustment, designed to protect the car’s plank, inadvertently altered the SF-25’s balance, leading to poor handling. Ferrari initially did not explain the nature of the problem, but the recent disclosure confirmed the root cause of Leclerc’s race decline.
Fans Voice Their Discontent Over Ferrari’s Explanation
The revelation of the mechanical flaw sparked strong reactions from Formula 1 supporters on social media. Fans expressed frustration and disappointment, highlighting how this issue negatively affected both the driver and the team’s race prospects. Some viewers described it as the “worst possible outcome,” emphasizing the severe impact of such a fundamental fault on Ferrari’s championship efforts.
One fan noted,
“If that’s the case, it’s an absolute worst case scenario then. The worst possible outcome.”
Another added,
“So it’s the worst case scenario. Broken chassis is fixable, but this means the fundamental of the car is flawed and given no future updates are planned.”
There was surprise among fans that Ferrari openly admitted to the flaw instead of offering excuses. One wrote,
“Surprised they stated the truth and didn’t come out with some bs excuse about something having broken.”
Criticism towards Ferrari’s management was evident, with comments such as,
“This organization gets more and more embarrassing each day,”
revealing a growing impatience within the fanbase. Others supported Leclerc’s perspective during the race, reflecting,
“I knew that Charles was right during the race when he got angry. never believed floor damage for a sec.”
Charles Leclerc Expresses Frustration After the Hungarian GP
Following the race, Charles Leclerc openly discussed his bewilderment and dissatisfaction. Speaking with Sky Sports F1, he described the evolving challenges throughout the event. Initially, Leclerc maintained control for much of the race, but the final stint became nearly impossible. He referred to the last phase as “a disaster,” highlighting how the car lost its balance and became very difficult to handle.
“The situation was quite strange,” he explained immediately after the race. “We were under control for the first 40 laps of the race. We were in control for the first stint, a bit more difficult for the second one, but it was still manageable. The last stint was a disaster, very difficult to drive.
“The balance was not there. Honestly, so far we don’t know exactly what’s happened. We have to investigate if we have something broken on the chassis side or whatever. At one stage, I thought that we would never finish the race,” Leclerc said.
Leclerc’s acknowledgment of uncertainty about the exact cause suggests ongoing investigation within Ferrari to understand and rectify the problem fully. His comments reflect the frustration not only of the driver but of the entire team grappling with an unexpected and serious setback.
Championship Context and What Lies Ahead for Ferrari
Despite the difficulties in Hungary, Ferrari continues to hold second place in the Constructors’ Championship with 260 points after 14 races and three Sprint events. Charles Leclerc is fifth in the Drivers’ Championship standings with 151 points, currently ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who has accumulated 109 points.
The Hungarian GP issue underscores the fragility of Ferrari’s current performance level and highlights the crucial need for technical advancements and reliability improvements. As the season progresses towards the Dutch Grand Prix, the team faces pressure to identify and fix the SF-25’s fundamental flaws to support Leclerc’s championship ambitions and maintain their strong position.
