The 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone began with unpredictable weather and immediate strategic gambles, and for Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, it quickly turned into a race to forget. Starting from the formation lap, Leclerc made a bold choice that ultimately compromised his entire race and exposed deeper technical issues within the team.
After a promising start to the weekend, with encouraging signs during the free practice sessions, things began to unravel for Scuderia Ferrari in qualifying. Charles Leclerc could only secure a third-row start on the grid for Sunday’s race, while Lewis Hamilton also started mid-pack. Once the race got underway on a rain-affected Silverstone circuit, both drivers had to navigate tricky conditions—but Charles Leclerc’s experience quickly deteriorated.
As the formation lap ended and the grid prepared for lights out, Charles Leclerc opted for a last-minute switch to slick tyres, pitting from the grid before the start. It was a risky decision given the damp track, and it backfired almost immediately. The Monegasque driver lost positions rapidly as it became clear that the intermediate tyres were the correct compound for the opening stages. The time lost in the early laps saw him drop to the back of the field, unable to recover meaningful ground.
Unfortunately for Charles Leclerc, tyre choice was only the beginning of his troubles. He also encountered persistent problems with the rear brake temperatures on his Ferrari SF-25, a complication that further hindered his performance. The situation became evident during a heated exchange over team radio, where Charles Leclerc voiced serious concerns about inconsistent telemetry and unpredictable brake settings:
“The rear is hotter than the front. We need to work on this—maybe we should sit down together after the race. All the displays are giving me different information, which has never happened before. The brake settings keep changing randomly.”
These comments underline not only his frustration with the car’s handling but also with the lack of reliable feedback from the cockpit systems.
While Lewis Hamilton, who remained on intermediate tyres at the start, struggled early on but managed to recover and finish just off the podium in fourth place, Charles Leclerc’s race was effectively over before it began. His early pit stop, combined with the technical issues and miscommunication, turned what could have been a strong weekend into a disaster.
As the checkered flag fell, it became clear that tensions are once again simmering within Ferrari. The post-race debrief at Maranello will no doubt be a heated one, as the team seeks answers for yet another missed opportunity during the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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