Ferrari: Jacques Villeneuve voices serious doubts over Charles Leclerc’s mindset amid strategy communication in Montreal. Jacques Villeneuve expresses concern over Ferrari's strategy missteps .

Jacques Villeneuve raises alarm over Charles Leclerc’s discontent as Ferrari’s strategy falters again in Canadian Grand Prix

Scuderia Ferrari endured yet another frustrating weekend in the 2025 Formula 1 season, leaving the Montreal Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve with a lacklustre fifth and sixth-place finish. Despite arriving in Canada with hopes of fighting at the front, the Scuderia’s latest performance only deepened concerns over the team’s strategic direction and internal cohesion.

The trouble began early when Charles Leclerc crashed during practice, interrupting his rhythm despite showing promising pace. He ultimately qualified a disappointing eighth, while teammate Lewis Hamilton managed to secure P5 on the grid. However, both drivers struggled with the SF-25’s balance throughout the weekend, particularly in race conditions. Hamilton reported brake instability, claiming he had “no rear” grip for the duration of the Grand Prix.

Perhaps most troubling for Ferrari was Lewis Hamilton’s lack of race pace. The seven-time world champion was slower than both Williams cars and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, finishing behind Charles Leclerc in sixth. If not for Lando Norris’ dramatic crash following a collision with teammate Oscar Piastri late in the race, Lewis Hamilton would have crossed the line in seventh. Once again, a lack of competitiveness and further confusion on the pit wall prevented Ferrari from mounting any meaningful challenge.

Jacques Villeneuve criticises Ferrari strategy amid growing tension with Charles Leclerc

Adding fuel to the fire, 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve expressed serious concern over the visible disconnect between Charles Leclerc and Ferrari’s pit wall. The former champion pointed to Canada as a troubling example of how driver and team appeared to be operating on different wavelengths—a disunity that could seriously hinder any hope of closing the gap to Red Bull and McLaren.

Leclerc had started the race on the hard compound tyre and communicated via team radio that he preferred to pursue a one-stop strategy—internally referred to as “Plan C.” He appeared comfortable with this approach. Nevertheless, Ferrari made the decision to divert to “Plan B,” pitting Leclerc for another set of hards before eventually switching to mediums on lap 53. The Monegasque was visibly frustrated after the race, questioning the logic behind a call that he had clearly disagreed with during the race.

Villeneuve, speaking to Sky Sports F1, noted that the disjointed communication between the Monegasque and the Ferrari engineers reflected a deeper structural issue. He remarked that it was clear from the radio exchanges that the driver and team lacked strategic alignment, and urged the Scuderia to “get their act together” if they were serious about rejoining the title fight.

Leclerc’s frustration grows as scrutiny intensifies on Fred Vasseur’s leadership

Ferrari’s ongoing issues with radio communication and inconsistent race strategies have become a recurring theme throughout the 2025 season. In Canada, even Hamilton appeared puzzled by the team’s tyre choices during qualifying, leaving observers questioning Ferrari’s decision-making processes.

Following the Montreal round, Ferrari ceded second place in the constructors’ standings to Mercedes, who secured a commanding win through George Russell and a strong podium from rookie Kimi Antonelli. The pressure has since intensified on team principal Fred Vasseur, with reports suggesting that Ferrari chairman John Elkann has grown impatient with the team’s stagnation.

Fred Vasseur is reportedly facing a three-race window to demonstrate tangible improvement. Failure to deliver could trigger leadership changes at Maranello. Meanwhile, speculation about Leclerc’s long-term commitment to Ferrari has begun to surface. Although the Monegasque recently told Nico Rosberg that the Ferrari team boss  was doing a “fantastic job,” the tone within the team suggests otherwise. Charles Leclerc’s body language and race-day frustrations indicate that Ferrari must act swiftly if they wish to avoid a deeper crisis and salvage what remains of their 2025 Formula 1 campaign.