At the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc received sharp criticism for his persistent team radio complaints, particularly after being hindered by Isack Hadjar’s dirty air during qualifying. Former GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi publicly expressed frustration at Leclerc’s behavior, urging the Monegasque driver to focus on racing instead of complaining.
Leclerc’s weekend at Canada was challenging from the start. During the first practice session, he crashed into a wall due to low grip, causing significant damage that forced him to miss FP2. During qualifying, while attempting a fast lap in Q3, he faced difficulty because Hadjar was ahead, creating disturbing turbulent air. This forced Leclerc to abort his lap, leaving him to start in eighth place. His anger was evident in the team radio exchanges, where he used explicit language to express his displeasure.
Davide Valsecchi Calls On Leclerc to Focus Instead of Complaining
Davide Valsecchi criticized Leclerc for failing to maintain composure on the radio, insisting that a driver of his caliber should keep quiet and concentrate on the race. Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Valsecchi said:
“I cannot understand why the team takes this situation; I cannot understand why someone is not saying, ‘Shut up and drive. Please, you are one of the best in the world; just drive!'” —Davide Valsecchi, Former GP2 Champion
Valsecchi highlighted that Leclerc’s own mistakes shaped his weekend more than external factors. He pointed out that Leclerc was initially performing strongly but failed to capitalize due to errors, rather than interference from other drivers. He added:
“Leclerc this weekend was flying, right? He had seven or eight laps in FP1. He was at the top of the board. Then he crashed, missed the second session, and it was his fault. Then he got in FP3, he was second, and then he got to quali; he made the mistake in his last try, and he complained about Hadjar, who was far away in front. I mean, why do you keep complaining on a weekend when you can score a victory or you can stay on the podium? Your weekend is full of mistakes; it’s not the right time to complain,” —Davide Valsecchi, Former GP2 Champion
Leclerc’s Race Recovery and Team Strategy Debate
Despite a difficult qualifying, Leclerc managed a respectable recovery in the main race, finishing fifth, one position ahead of his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton. Even with this result, Leclerc admitted that his overall performance was below expectations. Reflecting on the race strategy, he expressed dissatisfaction with how things unfolded, explaining he didn’t execute perfectly:
“I don’t really want to speak with ifs. At the end of the day, I didn’t put everything together. I didn’t do the job.” —Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Leclerc had pushed for a one-stop strategy, confident he could manage tire wear effectively. However, Ferrari adopted a two-stop plan, which forced earlier pit calls and caused tension between Leclerc and race engineer Bryan Bozzi. This differing approach led to noticeable clashes over radio communications during the race.
Looking Ahead to Upcoming Races
Following the Canadian GP, both Leclerc and Hamilton aim to improve their performance as the Formula 1 season progresses. The team is reportedly planning car modifications for the next race at the Austrian Grand Prix, where Ferrari hopes strategic and technical improvements can help secure stronger results.
