Hungarian GP mystery: Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari SF25 slowed by other problems, not damaged chassis. New details from Maranello confirm that Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari suffered no chassis damage during the Hungarian GP.

The theory of a damaged chassis is now being ruled out: during the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc was actually slowed down by something entirely different — and a new report reveals the real cause

The behind-the-scenes story from Maranello confirms there was no damage to the chassis of Charles Leclerc’s SF-25 during the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver was hampered by a completely different issue. This new insight, revealed by Italian journalist Daniele Sparisci in Corriere della Sera, supports what had already emerged from the technical analysis published by ScuderiaFans.com: there was another reason behind the performance drop of car number 16.

The Budapest mystery began after a strong first half of the race, during which Charles Leclerc had managed to hold off the extremely fast McLaren of Australian driver Oscar Piastri. However, the Ferrari driver suddenly lost pace in the second half of the Grand Prix. The performance drop was sharp and unexpected, ultimately resulting in an undeserved fourth-place finish for the Scuderia Ferrari driver. It was a frustrating outcome that triggered unusually heated radio messages from Charles Leclerc, who appeared shocked by the sudden change in his car’s behavior.

Maranello’s initial explanation, offered even before any detailed technical checks had been completed, pointed to possible damage to the chassis. However, that theory was almost immediately questioned by Mercedes driver George Russell and other figures in the Formula 1 paddock, many of whom suspected that the real issue might once again lie with the plank wear — a recurring and controversial problem for Ferrari. A few days later, a new behind-the-scenes report confirmed what many feared: the chassis of the SF-25 was intact and undamaged.

Ferrari’s official explanation and the collapse in Charles Leclerc’s performance
Even though Scuderia Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur clarified that the word “chassis” refers to any component unrelated to the power unit, the first internal analyses painted a clearer picture. According to the Corriere della Sera article, Ferrari’s engineers found no malfunction linked to the SF-25’s chassis. No defective part, no visible or hidden damage was detected. The real reason behind Charles Leclerc’s performance drop was likely something else entirely.

A combination of contributing factors may have slowed down car number 16. These could include changes made to the front wing angle or adjustments in tire pressure. Nevertheless, it remains difficult to explain a loss of performance that amounted to as much as two seconds per lap. The report even suggests that the analysis will continue, looking into possible external influences — such as track condition changes — which might have played a role.

At the same time, the article stops short of ruling out what many consider the most dramatic possibility: a deliberate technical intervention made by the team to avoid the risk of a second disqualification for excessive plank wear. If confirmed, this would suggest a conscious sacrifice in performance to remain within the strict regulatory limits — a difficult compromise, but possibly a necessary one after recent scrutiny.