The Ferrari driver`s performance was significantly hindered by a chassis issue, leading to a fourth-place finish.
Leclerc slowly returned to the pits, shaking his head, radio silent. The Ferrari driver—who had started from pole position in the Hungarian Grand Prix thanks to a superb qualifying performance on Saturday—finished fourth. He was speechless, and it’s hard to imagine otherwise, after a race he had controlled until the final pit stop. At that point, the Monegasque driver suddenly found himself without pace, becoming the slowest on track, to the extent that even some lapped cars began to close in. Piastri easily overtook him, and soon after, Russell also passed him following just two laps of struggle. But what exactly happened to Ferrari car number 16?
Leclerc Explodes Over Team Radio
“We`re losing this race, we`re losing so much time.” The first concerning team radio message arrived halfway through the race, when Leclerc was positioned behind Norris` McLaren, still awaiting its pit stop. This message was emphatically confirmed after Ferrari car number 16’s second pit stop: Leclerc rapidly lost pace, Piastri easily overtook him, and the Monegasque driver erupted over the radio. “It’s incredibly frustrating. We’ve lost all our competitiveness. You must listen to me! I would have found a way to deal with these difficulties. Now the car is undriveable. Simply undriveable. It will be a miracle if we finish on the podium.” And indeed, that was the case: Russell also made his move, Charles defended for a few laps, but couldn`t hold on longer. It was impossible to do more.
Leclerc`s Problem
“A chassis problem,” Charles revealed after the race, “I thought it was something else.” He was referring to an adjustment made to the front wing by the mechanics during the final pit stop, which the driver considered overly “aggressive,” leading to his radio outburst. It was impossible for the Ferrari driver to notice the damaged chassis, a problem that progressively worsened during the race, causing a significant loss of aerodynamic downforce. From the pit wall, Brian Bozzi eventually instructed the Monegasque to avoid the kerbs, aiming to minimize further damage until the checkered flag. After the race concluded, the team informed Leclerc of the true nature of the issue, and he subsequently apologized for his strong reactions over the radio.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
