Leclerc’s desperate plea for Ferrari strategy backfires Montreal Canada as Ocon executes it to perfection

Ferrari Slips to Third in 2025 F1 Constructors’ Championship After Mercedes Double Podium in Canada

Ferrari’s position in the 2025 Formula 1 constructors’ standings suffered a setback as the Maranello team fell to third place following a dominant showing by Mercedes in the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. George Russell secured his first win of the season in Montreal, while rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden F1 podium with an impressive third-place finish. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc led Ferrari’s challenge but could only manage P5 at the chequered flag.

The Scuderia had only recently overtaken Mercedes for second in the championship, buoyed by Leclerc’s runner-up finish in the Spanish Grand Prix. However, the Silver Arrows quickly erased their six-point deficit and surged ahead to establish a 16-point advantage over the Maranello-based squad. Mercedes’ success in Montreal was rooted in a strong qualifying performance, with Russell starting from pole position and Kimi Antonelli lining up fourth on the grid. In contrast, Ferrari failed to make an impact in Q3, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc qualifying P5 and P8 respectively.

Leclerc’s Race Compromised by FP1 Crash and Strategy Limitations

Ferrari’s weekend in Montreal was further complicated by Charles Leclerc’s crash during FP1. The 27-year-old lost control into Turn 3 and struck the barriers, damaging the left side of his SF-25 and forcing the team to change his chassis. As a result, Charles Leclerc missed all of Friday’s remaining sessions, which hindered his preparation heading into qualifying and the race.

Starting from eighth, Ferrari opted to place the Monegasque on the hard C4 Pirelli compound in an attempt to extend his opening stint. Despite Charles Leclerc urging the team to consider a one-stop strategy, the Scuderia declined and committed to a two-stop approach. The Monegasque eventually pitted on Lap 28 of 66 for another set of hard tyres.

According to Motorsport Italy, although a one-stop strategy worked well for Haas’ Esteban Ocon—who climbed from 14th to ninth by staying out until Lap 57—Ferrari’s situation was fundamentally different. Ocon benefitted from running in clean air for most of his stint, while those around him suffered from tyre degradation caused by traffic after their pit stops.

In Ferrari’s case, allowing Charles Leclerc to mimic Ocon’s approach would likely not have yielded similar gains. The drivers ahead of the Monegasque were able to execute two-stop strategies without encountering significant traffic, thus maintaining optimal pace. Furthermore, George Russell effortlessly overtook Leclerc on Lap 26 following his own stop, underlining the gap in performance and race positioning.

Scuderia’s Strategic Call Shows Discipline, Despite Criticism

While Charles Leclerc was keen to explore an alternative strategy, Ferrari’s refusal to deviate from their planned approach was ultimately justified. Analysts have argued that yielding to the Monegasque’s request for a one-stop tactic would have been a strategic misstep. George Russell’s pass on Charles Leclerc so soon after rejoining the track served as a clear indicator that the Monegasque lacked the pace to make such a strategy viable.

Former F1 driver David Coulthard praised Ferrari’s firm stance during the race, noting that the team promptly informed Charles Leclerc of a switch to ‘Plan B’ and did not entertain his request for a ‘Plan C’. Coulthard viewed this as a sign of strong leadership and clarity in the Scuderia’s race management.

However, this view was not universally shared. 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve criticized the team’s handling of Charles Leclerc’s strategy, expressing concern over what he perceived as a lack of cohesion between driver and team. Jacques Villeneuve asserted that Ferrari needed to improve its internal communication and ensure that both parties were aligned during critical race moments.

Conclusion: Ferrari Must Regroup Amid Mercedes Momentum

Ferrari’s drop to third in the constructors’ standings underscores the importance of maximizing both performance and strategic execution as the 2025 Formula 1 season progresses. Mercedes’ resurgence, led by a clinical Russell and a rising star in Antonelli, has raised the stakes for the Scuderia. With Charles Leclerc eager to fight at the front and internal calls for better coordination growing louder, Ferrari must now regroup quickly to reassert its position in the championship battle.