The Canadian Grand Prix served up another dose of drama for Ferrari, with the Italian media sharpening their pens and zeroing in on the Scuderia’s leadership and drivers. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in fifth and sixth, respectively. Still, their performances, paired with Team Principal Fred Vasseur’s fiery defense of the team last week, laid bare the challenges simmering within Ferrari’s ranks.
Look, I get it, Ferrari’s a team that lives and breathes passion, but when the results don’t match the hype, the scrutiny gets intense. Let’s unpack what went down in Montreal and why it’s got everyone talking.
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Leclerc’s Self-Criticism and Strategic Tensions
Charles Leclerc didn’t mince words after the race, pointing the finger squarely at himself for his P5 finish. He admitted his qualifying mistakes, going wide after a blistering first sector and an earlier FP1 shunt, set the tone for a tough weekend. That FP1 crash was no minor hiccup — it was bad enough to force a survival cell change on his SF-25, sidelining him for FP2. Ouch. Despite briefly leading the race, Leclerc wasn’t thrilled with Ferrari’s call to go for a two-stop strategy, believing a one-stop might’ve been the better play.
Still, he’s not one to throw the team under the bus. He acknowledged they had more data and made the final call, concluding that fifth was probably where they deserved to land, strategy aside. “We were on the back foot from the start,” he said, clearly frustrated but owning it. Leclerc’s locked in with Ferrari for the long haul and insists his dream is to win with them. You’ve got to admire the guy’s grit, even when he’s kicking himself.
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Hamilton’s Groundhog Woes and Ferrari Struggles
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s race was, in his words, a “lonely sixth.” And let me tell you, it wasn’t just the position that stung. On Lap 9, he hit a groundhog — yep, you read that right — which cost him 20 points of downforce, roughly half a second per lap, and wrecked his car’s floor. Hamilton was gutted about the animal and, frankly, about his race. Add in a brake issue later on, and it’s no wonder he sounded deflated.
The seven-time champ hasn’t felt at one with his Ferrari all year, and he’s not shy about saying it. He’s pushing for upgrades, though he’s not holding his breath for a big one next race. Despite the struggles, Hamilton’s got Vasseur’s back, dismissing talk of the team principal’s exit from Ferrari as “nonsense.” He even said Vasseur was the main reason he signed with Ferrari. That’s loyalty, folks, and it’s a reminder that Hamilton’s all-in for this red-tinted journey.
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Vasseur Under Fire, But Standing Firm at Ferrari
Speaking of Vasseur, the man’s been in the hot seat lately, but should he be? Ferrari’s winless start to 2025 has the Italian press buzzing with speculation about his future, and he’s not having it. While he stays super calm about the chatter, he didn’t hold back, slamming some of the Italian media for what he called “disrespectful” reports. He argued that this kind of noise messes with the team’s focus and hurts morale, especially for the families of those working tirelessly at Maranello. He’s not blind to the issues, though, admitting Ferrari “didn’t do a good job” early this season and that McLaren’s still one step ahead. Ferrari’s sitting third in the Constructors’ Championship, after Mercedes leapfrogged them Sunday, but the gap to McLaren is wider than they’d like. Vasseur’s point? Constant speculation isn’t helping anyone.
The Bigger Picture: Stability Over Chaos
Ferrari’s championship drought, which dates back to 2008 for Constructors’ and 2007 for Drivers, looms large and the frustration is real. But let’s pump the brakes on the calls for a complete overhaul. As Vasseur noted, change takes time to bear fruit because of inertia in a team as complex as Ferrari. His senior leadership only fully came together late last year, and Hamilton’s treating his Ferrari stint as a long-term project. The SF-25’s been a tricky beast to tame, and setup issues keep tripping them up.
Leclerc hit the nail on the head: Ferrari needs to figure out what “outstanding thing” McLaren’s cracked. But shaking things up just for the sake of it? That’s rarely the answer. History shows Ferrari’s big resets don’t consistently deliver instant wins. What they need is sustained effort, not a revolving door of personnel. Stability, not chaos, is the path to closing that gap.
So, where does Ferrari go from here? The Canadian Grand Prix was a stark reminder that talent and passion alone won’t cut it. They’ve got the pieces for sure: Leclerc’s raw speed, Hamilton’s experience, and Vasseur’s vision. But it’s all about putting it together. The Italian media might keep stirring the pot, but Ferrari’s best bet is to tune out the noise, dial in the SF-25, and chase that elusive edge. Because if there’s one thing we know about Ferrari, it’s that they don’t give up. And honestly, that’s what keeps us all glued to this rollercoaster.
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