During the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was instructed to use the lift and coast technique extensively to manage fuel consumption and brake temperature. Starting from seventh position, Leclerc followed these instructions throughout the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, as captured in a revealing 104-second radio communication clip that recently surfaced on social media.
Detailed Radio Exchange Reveals Lift and Coast Instructions
The clip, lasting one minute and forty-four seconds, features Ferrari engineer Bryan Bozzi repeatedly directing Leclerc to engage in lift and coast maneuvers. This began on Lap 6 and persisted during Laps 16 through 20, aiming to conserve energy and optimize the car’s regeneration system. Bozzi emphasized the importance of smoother braking to reduce the heat stress on the vehicle’s brakes, a critical factor on Singapore’s demanding street circuit.
While this method helped preserve resources, it came at the cost of outright performance. Leclerc had to balance maintaining track position with the risks involved in reducing his car’s pace, as the technique inherently slows lap times and can leave a driver vulnerable to rivals.
Race Outcome and Comparative Performances at Singapore
Ultimately, Leclerc finished the race in sixth place, one position higher than his starting grid slot, indicating some success in managing these compromises. His teammate Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, ended up in eighth place, two spots behind where he began. The event was challenging overall for Ferrari, illustrated by these tight results.
The race winner was George Russell of Mercedes, with Max Verstappen from Red Bull finishing second. Oscar Piastri, the current championship leader, secured third place, highlighting a competitive podium lineup at the Marina Bay event.
Leclerc Expresses Frustration with Ferrari’s Competitiveness
Following the race, Charles Leclerc openly admitted Ferrari’s struggles to compete with the leading teams. In a media statement, he said,
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the race car to fight with the guys in front. McLaren always had the same gap on us compared to the beginning of the year. Red Bull did a step from Monza and the same level as McLaren.” – Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
“Mercedes now is at the same level of McLaren and Red Bull, and then there’s us, and, it’s not easy, obviously, because you want to fight for better positions. But at the moment, it just feels like we [are] kind of passengers to the car and we cannot extract much more what’s there to salvage from the rest of the season,” Leclerc added. – Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Leclerc currently ranks fifth in the Drivers’ Championship with 173 points after 18 races and three Sprint events. Hamilton sits just behind him at sixth place with 127 points. Ferrari stands third in the Constructors’ Championship, holding a total of 300 points.
Technical Challenges and Strategic Implications of Lift and Coast
The strategic enforcement of lift and coast during the Singapore GP underscores the complex balancing act faced by Ferrari in managing vehicle durability against performance. Brake temperatures in street circuits like Marina Bay often rise significantly, and using less aggressive braking conserves the hardware to prevent failures or performance drops later in the race.
However, this fuel-saving technique also decreases overall pace, which can stifle overtaking opportunities and put the driver at risk of losing more ground to competitors. For Leclerc, applying lift and coast repeatedly meant sacrificing raw speed to protect mechanical components and meet fuel restrictions, reflecting Ferrari’s current technological limitations compared to their rivals.
Looking Ahead for Ferrari and Leclerc’s Title Prospects
As the Formula 1 season progresses, Ferrari’s inability to close the performance gap to teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren leaves their championship aspirations uncertain. Leclerc’s candid comments reveal a team feeling constrained by their car’s weaknesses, potentially indicating intensified development efforts or strategic adjustments for upcoming races.
The pressure will remain on Ferrari’s engineers, including key figures like Bryan Bozzi, to unlock more pace without compromising reliability, while Leclerc and Hamilton will aim to maximize every opportunity in an increasingly competitive field. Meanwhile, drivers such as George Russell and Oscar Piastri continue to mount serious challenges for the championship.
a compilation of charles getting asked to do lico in today's race – i put which lap it was in the top left corner so you understand better
from lap 51 until the end (lap 62), he didn't stop doing lico lol pic.twitter.com/2cZcBhtP7J
— clara (@leclercsletters) October 5, 2025
