What started as a promising race for Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ended in frustration, as a late-race chassis issue cost him a potential podium—or even a shot at victory. Teammate Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult outing of his own, trapped in traffic and finishing outside the points in P12.
Leclerc’s Race: From Control to Crisis
Charles Leclerc lined up on the grid with high hopes after securing the team’s first pole position of the season. On Medium tyres, he made a clean start, holding the lead comfortably through the opening stint.
By Lap 20, he made his first pit stop for Hard tyres, rejoining without incident after a smooth 2.0-second stop. His pace was strong, managing the gap to the chasing McLarens and George Russell behind.
However, a second stop on Lap 40—again for Hards—marked a turning point.
“I started to feel something was wrong with the car. After the race, we discovered a chassis issue that cost us about two seconds per lap,” Leclerc said.
The drop in performance became evident in the final stint. Leclerc was overtaken by Oscar Piastri on Lap 50 and then George Russell eight laps from the finish. Despite the setback, he showed resilience, bringing the car home in P4.
Hamilton’s Frustrating Sunday
Starting on Hard tyres, Hamilton lost two positions on the opening lap, immediately falling into the heart of a DRS train that would define his race.
Attempts to fight back were hampered by dirty air and traffic, with little opportunity to gain ground. On Lap 29, he was forced wide by Max Verstappen at Turn 4—an incident later reviewed by the stewards.
Opting for a one-stop strategy, Hamilton switched to Mediums on Lap 42, but it was too late to make a significant recovery. He ultimately crossed the line in P12, outside the points.
“It’s been a tough weekend and one to move on from. I’ll use the break to reset, recharge, and come back stronger,” said Hamilton.
Team Reaction: “We Could Have Won”
Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal reflected on the bittersweet result:
“Charles was in control during the first two stints. At one point, we had a 15-second lead over Russell and were matching McLaren’s pace. Then came the chassis problem, and everything changed.”
“With Lewis, the strategy was sound on paper, but getting stuck in traffic and the DRS train really hurt his chances. There wasn’t much more he could do.”
Despite the setbacks, the team takes away key positives—namely, the pole position and the car’s competitive pace for much of the race.
Race Summary
| Driver | Position | Fastest Lap | Pit Stops | Total Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Leclerc (#16) | P4 | 1:20.440 (Lap 47) | 2 (Laps 20, 40) | 1:36:03.791 | +42.560s |
| Lewis Hamilton (#44) | P12 | 1:20.022 (Lap 55) | 1 (Lap 42) | 1:35:31.092 | +1 Lap |
Conditions: Dry & cloudy
Air Temp: 22°C
Track Temp: 32°C
Total Laps: 70
Looking Ahead
With the summer break now underway, both drivers will regroup before the next round. For Leclerc, there’s confidence in the pace shown early in the race. For Hamilton, it’s an opportunity to reset and return firing on all cylinders.
Until then, the fight continues.