Charles Leclerc finally takes control: the team radio that silenced his Ferrari race engineer in Jeddah. Charles Leclerc finally managed to assert himself over Ferrari during the Saudi Arabian GP.

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the fifth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, saw a Ferrari on the podium for the first time this year. Charles Leclerc delivered a simply masterful race, keeping a clearly superior McLaren behind him and finally asserting himself over Ferrari: here is the team radio where he “shut down” Bryan Bozzi in Jeddah.

From Thursday onward, based on the Monegasque driver’s statements, Jeddah was shaping up to be a much better weekend than the previous ones. Thanks to the track’s layout—fast, with no slow corners and a smooth surface that allowed the SF-25 to run low—and Leclerc’s affinity with the Saudi circuit.

And indeed, that’s how it went. The difference wasn’t made in qualifying, but during the race. Charles Leclerc, with incredible tire management, extended his first stint by ten laps, then rejoined the track with a much fresher compound and launched his attack on George Russell’s Mercedes. First podium of the season for Ferrari, and the first podium for driver number 16.

But what truly made the difference—especially compared to Lewis Hamilton, who was lost in the midfield—is that Charles Leclerc seems to have figured out how to set up the SF-25 to make it fast. He makes the car even more unbalanced and personally handles the consequences with remarkable skill. “Give me more understeer, I’ll try to manage it and take the risk.”

Another positive sign is that Charles Leclerc finally asserted himself with the team. During the Grand Prix, Bryan Bozzi came on the radio suggesting adjustments to his driving style, but the Monegasque driver replied sharply and firmly. Here is the exchange:

Bozzi: “Try to open more in turn 15 so you can get a better exit in turn 16. Everywhere else you’re doing very well.”
Leclerc: “Alright, let’s stop trying to fix what can’t be fixed. The car is really bad in turn 15. And reduce the feedback or I can’t push to the limit.”
Bozzi: “Understood. I’ll limit the feedback.”

Over the years, many have criticized this weak point in Charles. On many occasions, he followed the team’s instructions only to go down the wrong path.