Leclerc Capitalises on Verstappen’s Error as Ferrari Rating Again-to-Again Podiums in Spain
Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc made probably the most of Max Verstappen’s misjudged security automobile restart on the Barcelona Grand Prix on the Circuit de Catalunya to clinch a vital third-place end, giving the Maranello staff consecutive podiums for the primary time this Method 1 season. The consequence comes as a much-needed enhance for the Maranello-based staff, who proceed to path far behind McLaren within the constructors’ standings.
Regardless of their runner-up end within the 2024 championship, Ferrari’s 2025 marketing campaign has fallen wanting expectations. Following the Spanish Grand Prix, the Scuderia now sit 197 factors adrift of McLaren, with 165 factors to the Woking staff’s 362. Charles Leclerc has contributed 94 of these factors, whereas teammate Lewis Hamilton has added 71, together with his greatest lead to Spain aided by Verstappen’s penalty after a collision with George Russell.
Ferrari’s inner technique additionally performed a job of their Montmelo success. Early within the race, the staff instructed Hamilton to yield to Charles Leclerc on lap 10, because the Monegasque had a stronger tempo and was being held up. That call proved important because the 27-year-old driver took benefit of Verstappen’s miscalculated restart, shifting forward earlier than the Dutchman’s contact with George Russell additional shuffled the order.
Fred Vasseur Downplays Ferrari’s Improve Plans to Handle Hype in Italy
Charles Leclerc’s third-place end in Spain, following his P2 lead to Monaco, marked a turning level for Ferrari’s 2025 marketing campaign. Nevertheless, staff principal Fred Vasseur is selecting his phrases rigorously to mood the joy constructing across the staff’s latest type. In keeping with Auto Motor und Sport, Fred Vasseur declined to elaborate on Ferrari’s improvement schedule throughout the weekend in Barcelona, citing considerations over elevating “extreme expectations” amongst followers and media in Italy.
The Ferrari staff boss confirmed solely that the Italian facet do plan to convey updates to the SF-25, however he clarified that not all of them will likely be externally seen. The main target of the upgrades is predicted to be mechanical fairly than aerodynamic, as Ferrari goal to enhance the automobile’s predictability and its capability to convey the Pirelli tyres into optimum working vary extra shortly—a difficulty that has plagued Hamilton specifically.
One of many key elements of Ferrari’s deliberate improvement is a brand new rear suspension system, scheduled for introduction on the Austrian Grand Prix. Engineers in Maranello hope this replace will considerably improve each drivers’ consolation and confidence, particularly Hamilton’s, because the staff continues to fine-tune the SF-25’s dealing with traits.
Charles Leclerc Stays Cautious About Ferrari’s Podium Prospects Regardless of Spanish GP Outcome
Whereas the Monegasque driver welcomed his Spanish Grand Prix podium, he remained reasonable about Ferrari’s present competitiveness. He expressed doubt that the staff is but able to battle constantly on the entrance, notably within the absence of tangible upgrades.
Following the race, the 27-year-old shared his perception that Ferrari have been lucky to learn from the timing of the security automobile, which was deployed to recuperate Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s stricken Mercedes. Previous to that, Leclerc had been operating fourth and was considerably off Max Verstappen’s tempo—over 16 seconds adrift—although he misplaced just some seconds earlier within the race whereas caught behind Hamilton.
Leclerc defined that with out the intervention of the security automobile, a fourth-place end would have been probably the most reasonable consequence. He additionally famous that whereas the staff has begun to know tips on how to higher arrange the SF-25, they nonetheless require excessive configurations to extract efficiency, which makes the automobile much less pleasant and predictable to drive. Till Ferrari introduce significant upgrades, Leclerc feels podiums will stay circumstantial fairly than constant.
Crimson Bull’s choice to suit Verstappen with laborious tyres throughout the security automobile interval—attributable to an absence of contemporary options—additionally performed into Leclerc’s fingers. Ferrari, in the meantime, gave Leclerc a contemporary set of softs, permitting him to overhaul Verstappen instantly after the lap 61 restart and pull out a 1.371s hole, aided by Max Verstappen’s scrap with George Russell.
Ferrari could have discovered some short-term aid in Spain, however until their upgrades ship actual features in efficiency and tyre administration, each Leclerc and Hamilton may proceed to face an uphill battle of their pursuit of podium finishes for the rest of the 2025 season.
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