Ferrari’s smoke machine mishap: Watch Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc's hilarious reaction

Ferrari’s smoke machine mishap: Watch Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s hilarious reaction. A playful mishap at the Melbourne F1 Fan Zone sees Lewis Hamilton quickly escaping a smoke effect.

Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2025 F1

A small unexpected moment brought one of the funniest scenes of Friday at the Australian Grand Prix. During the fan zone event in Melbourne, while Ferrari drivers were on stage, a stage effect activated at the worst possible moment, creating a scene that quickly went viral on social media.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were seated on the couch on stage, answering fans’ questions, when suddenly the smoke machine used for the effects switched on. Within seconds, the stage was filled with a dense white cloud.

Hamilton’s reaction was immediate. The seven-time world champion instinctively got up from the couch, covering his nose and mouth with his shirt to avoid inhaling too much smoke, quickly moving away from the cloud that was enveloping the stage.

Charles Leclerc’s reaction, however, was completely different and became the funniest part of the scene. The Monegasque driver stayed seated longer, completely wrapped in smoke. For several seconds, he was invisible both to the fans and the cameras.

Despite the smoke, his voice was clearly heard. Amid the laughter, Charles Leclerc exclaimed into the microphone: “What’s happening?! I can’t see anything!”, causing the audience to laugh even harder.

Moments later, Lewis Hamilton joined in with a smile: “Ah, a malfunction.” At that point, the host on stage also started laughing, apologizing to the two drivers and the audience for the technical mishap.

The moment, captured by cameras and fans’ phones, quickly spread across social media, where the contrast between Lewis Hamilton’s immediate reaction and Charles Leclerc’s more playful response is entertaining F1 fans everywhere. A small “problem” in the Ferrari camp, this time lighthearted and fun.

The comedic timing of the Fan Zone smoke machine malfunction highlighted the relaxed and positive dynamic currently shared by the Ferrari duo in Melbourne. While Lewis Hamilton’s quick exit and Charles Leclerc’s “disappearing act” gave the fans a memorable laugh, the incident served as a perfect reminder that even in the high-pressure world of Formula 1, there is always room for a bit of viral, unscripted humor.