Tension at Ferrari as Leclerc Overtakes Hamilton in Chaotic Spanish Grand Prix
The Spanish Grand Prix proved to be a dramatic and telling race for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton once again ordered to move aside for teammate Charles Leclerc in the opening laps. Despite a strong launch off the grid, Lewis Hamilton struggled significantly with tyre degradation, prompting Ferrari to instruct the seven-time world champion to yield position early in the race.
Nico Rosberg, the Briton’s former Mercedes teammate and the 2016 Formula 1 World Champion, described Lewis Hamilton’s race as “horrible” while analysing his performance. Hamilton eventually crossed the line in sixth place, finishing behind Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber—a result that only intensified concerns about his current form at Ferrari.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc made the most of the late-race Safety Car intervention to close the gap to Max Verstappen, ultimately securing a spot on the podium. However, former F1 team manager and analyst Peter Windsor raised safety concerns over the aggressive move that led to Leclerc overtaking the Red Bull driver.
Charles Leclerc Slammed for “Extremely Dangerous” Maneuver on Verstappen at 330kph
Windsor, speaking during a livestream on his YouTube channel, highlighted a particularly alarming incident during the final laps. Max Verstappen had requested fresh tyres during the Safety Car period, but Red Bull fitted him with the hard compound—an apparent strategic miscalculation.
Capitalising on the superior grip of his medium tyres, Charles Leclerc drew alongside Max Verstappen on the main straight as the Dutchman momentarily lost traction. According to Peter Windsor, the Ferrari driver then drifted across the track at high speed, slightly making contact with the Red Bull. The former Formula One team and sponsorship manager believed this move was not only dangerous but among the riskiest seen in recent memory, comparing it to a similar controversial incident involving Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso at the 2022 US Grand Prix in Austin.
Peter Windsor stated that although the contact appeared accidental, the move itself was reckless and should have been immediately reviewed by race officials. He claimed that even minor contact at such speeds—reportedly around 330kph—could have led to disastrous consequences.
Ferrari to Introduce Upgrades as Lewis Hamilton Struggles to Match his teammate
Lewis Hamilton’s continued difficulties with the SF-25’s handling were again evident at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. During the race, he frequently reported balance issues over team radio, while Charles Leclerc also acknowledged post-race that the car’s behaviour was unpredictable throughout the Grand Prix.
As the performance gap between the two Ferrari drivers grows increasingly apparent, the Maranello-based team is now pushing forward with a new round of technical upgrades. These updates are expected to address the drivability issues that have plagued Hamilton and to improve overall balance, especially in long-run pace.
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya also weighed in on Lewis Hamilton’s situation, suggesting that part of the problem could stem from persistent miscommunications with his engineering team. Montoya has proposed that Hamilton may benefit from a change in race engineers—an idea that could gain traction if results continue to lag behind those of Charles Leclerc.
The Briton had entered the Spanish Grand Prix hoping to secure his first podium in Ferrari colours, but instead found himself watching from behind as the Monegasque took the spotlight once more. With upgrades on the horizon and tensions simmering, all eyes will be on whether Ferrari can provide Lewis Hamilton with the tools he needs to turn his season around.
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