Fiery controversy: after Zandvoort, a new chapter in the Russell–Leclerc battle at Monza
The 2025 Italian Grand Prix burst into controversy within the opening laps after an incident that immediately had fans and experts debating. On lap four, Charles Leclerc, while trying to defend his position from Oscar Piastri, cut across the Rettifilo chicane and rejoined the track without giving the place back. George Russell did not mince his words on the team radio, openly protesting: “That’s definitely a lasting advantage for Charles Leclerc.”
This incident came barely a week after the heated duel between Leclerc and Russell at Zandvoort, where the Ferrari driver had pulled off an aggressive move that was already under scrutiny. At Monza, tensions between the two flared up once again: George Russell immediately reported the irregularity, while Piastri also demanded that the Monegasque hand back the position, saying: “He has to give the position back. He defended and went straight on.”
Despite the protests, the FIA did not hand out any penalty. Two laps later, it was Oscar Piastri himself who managed to overtake Leclerc around the outside at the Rettifilo chicane.
According to the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, a driver who leaves the track must return without gaining a “lasting advantage.” However, the episode went unpunished, leaving rivals baffled and raising fresh doubts over the consistency of the stewards’ decisions.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc’s own team radio messages with his engineer Bryan Bozzi revealed that the Monegasque driver was already struggling with rear tyre overheating and several early race lock-ups, factors that contributed to the mistake at the Rettifilo. But the FIA’s decision not to investigate only fueled the controversy further, with Ferrari once again at the center of a regulatory storm.
