Ferrari’s F1 Nightmare: Charles Leclerc Declares “We’re Passengers to the Car!”
In an explosive revelation, Charles Leclerc has pulled back the curtain on Ferrari’s harrowing struggles in the Formula 1 arena, candidly admitting that both he and Lewis Hamilton feel like mere “passengers” behind the wheel of their underperforming car. The Scuderia has faced a relentless string of disappointments in recent races, particularly in Baku and Singapore, where the prestigious top-five positions slipped through their fingers in both qualifying rounds and races.
The Italian team’s woes were exacerbated on the challenging streets of Singapore, where Leclerc and Hamilton battled significant braking issues, leading to a dismal sixth and eighth place finish, respectively. “From lap 8, it was all about managing those brakes,” Leclerc lamented, underscoring the frustration that has gripped the team. “Everybody has to manage to a certain extent on a track like this, but we were on the worst side of things, making our race extremely difficult.”
The drama peaked in Baku when Leclerc selflessly allowed Hamilton to pass, hoping the Brit could launch an attack on the cars ahead. However, Hamilton’s failure to return the favor left Leclerc feeling unsupported. The situation worsened in Singapore, where Hamilton’s own braking woes saw him drop behind Leclerc, sparking further tension within the team.
Despite the setbacks, Leclerc remains adamant that the passenger experience isn’t the root of the team’s issues. “I really don’t think that this is the biggest problem of the team at the moment. Unfortunately, we don’t have the race car to fight with the guys in front,” he stated, painting a grim picture of Ferrari’s current standing. He pointed out that McLaren has maintained a consistent gap to Ferrari since the start of the season, while Red Bull has surged ahead after Monza, leaving Ferrari to grapple with a growing chasm in performance.
The SF-25’s unsettling behavior has been described by Leclerc as “understeery” yet “still very snappy and unpredictable.” His predictions for the remainder of the season are bleak: “The picture we’ve seen this weekend is going to be what the rest of the season looks like for us.” This stark assessment is especially painful for Leclerc, a seasoned racer with 27 pole positions and eight grand prix victories to his name, who hasn’t faced such a performance deficit since the tumultuous 2021 season.
The reality is even harsher as Ferrari narrowly missed out on the 2024 constructors’ title to McLaren by a mere 14 points. “Coming from a year like last year, where you are fighting for the world constructors’ championship, and then you come here with high expectations, it’s tough,” he reflected. Yet, in the face of adversity, Leclerc’s spirit remains unbroken. “It takes a lot of energy, but that doesn’t demotivate me. If anything, it motivates me much more to try and turn the situation around.”
As Ferrari’s F1 campaign continues to spiral, fans are left wondering: Can Leclerc and his team pull together and reclaim their once-legendary status? The clock is ticking, and the racing world watches with bated breath.