Ferrari’s hopes crumble at Silverstone, but the SF-25 is not to blame: Leo Turrini calls out the drivers
Scuderia Ferrari arrived at the Silverstone Circuit for the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix full of optimism and high expectations. After a series of difficult races earlier in the season, the strong performance in the early stages of the weekend had reignited hope among the loyal Tifosi. However, the outcome of the qualifying session once again brought disappointment, as Ferrari was unable to confirm its potential on the British track. Still, as Italian journalist Leo Turrini pointed out, this time the blame cannot be placed on the SF-25 Formula 1 car.
During the free practice sessions and up until Q2, the Maranello-based team had shown genuine competitiveness. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton looked capable of disrupting the party for McLaren and challenging at the front. But when it came to the decisive Q3 phase, the situation changed completely. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton only managed to qualify in sixth and fifth place respectively, meaning Ferrari will start from the third row of the grid in Sunday’s race.
The gaps between the top drivers were extremely tight in this qualifying session, just as predicted based on the data collected during Free Practice 3. Both Scuderia Ferrari drivers ended up just two tenths of a second behind the pole position time set by Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen. On the starting grid for the race, ahead of the two Ferraris will be one Red Bull, both McLaren cars, and George Russell’s Mercedes-AMG.
Ferrari leaves Silverstone bruised after Q3 disappointment
In the aftermath of qualifying, respected motorsport commentator Leo Turrini came to the defense of Ferrari’s technical department and staff. According to Turrini, the performance issues on Saturday were not due to the car. Instead, he placed the blame squarely on the drivers. “We allowed ourselves to dream too much. This time it was the drivers—Carletto [Charles Leclerc] and the Baronetto [Lewis Hamilton]—who made mistakes. Their final laps were flawed, and I believe both of them are fully aware of that,” he said. Leo Turrini’s remarks echoed the more reserved but similar criticism voiced earlier by Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur.
“Ultimately,” Leo Turrini continued, “on this magnificent Silverstone circuit, the timing screens tell us that Ferrari is currently the fourth-fastest team in qualifying. I don’t think that’s fair—and I don’t even think it’s entirely true—but we must accept the result for what it is. Now we’ll see if and how Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton can respond in the race. If the current balance of power is confirmed during the Grand Prix, it’s going to be an extremely close and competitive race.”
