Daily News 19

Tag: Charles Leclerc

  • 7 Memorable Italian Grand Prix Moments at Monza, From Michael Schumacher’s Record to Charles Leclerc’s Victory

    7 Memorable Italian Grand Prix Moments at Monza, From Michael Schumacher’s Record to Charles Leclerc’s Victory

    The Italian Grand Prix is just days away, and Monza is preparing to welcome Formula 1 teams, drivers and fans in typically passionate Italian style. From emotional celebrations to the Tifosi turning out in force, the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar has consistently delivered memorable moments both on and off the track.

    Monza has featured on the Formula 1 calendar since the championship began and has hosted every Italian Grand Prix except one since 1950. These are some of the most unforgettable moments from the Temple of Speed in recent racing history.

    Charles Leclerc Delights the Tifosi

    Few achievements in Formula 1 are more special than winning for Ferrari at its home race in Monza. Charles Leclerc experienced that feeling in 2019, when he claimed victory at the Italian Grand Prix for his second career win and his first at Monza.

    “There were people as far as I could see,” he said afterwards. “It was packed. I was trying to find my mum. She was in a grandstand… I was trying to find her but there were way too many people.”

    Michael Schumacher Equals Ayrton Senna’s Victory Tally

    Michael Schumacher remains Ferrari’s most successful race winner, but one of his most emotional victories came at the 2000 Italian Grand Prix.

    After missing the previous year’s race, the German driver returned to Monza in strong form and won in front of the Tifosi. It was the 41st victory of his Formula 1 career, bringing him level with Ayrton Senna’s total. The achievement prompted an emotional reaction from Schumacher during the post-race press conference.

    Ferrari Celebrates 90 Years

    Ferrari chose the weekend of the 2019 Italian Grand Prix to celebrate its 90th anniversary. The team took over Milan’s Piazza Duomo for a special “90 years of emotions” event, bringing together Charles Leclerc, Sebastian Vettel, former drivers and members of Ferrari’s past and present management.

    The celebration highlighted the Maranello team’s storied history in front of a sea of red jerseys and caps, with the iconic Duomo di Milano providing the backdrop.

  • Ferrari “can’t leave more points on the table” with Race Execution

    Ferrari “can’t leave more points on the table” with Race Execution

    Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has urged the team to improve its Formula 1 race weekend execution as the performance gap between the leading 2026 teams continues to narrow.

    After dedicating much of 2025 to preparing for the new regulations, Ferrari has produced a competitive SF-26 and continued to introduce upgrades aimed at giving Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc a chance to win a grand prix. The team currently sits second in the constructors’ championship.

    However, Ferrari failed to convert its pace into podium finishes at the last two races in Hungary and the Netherlands, despite having a car capable of challenging for the top three.

    Ferrari missed opportunities in Hungary and the Netherlands

    Ferrari appeared strong during practice at the twisty Hungaroring, a circuit expected to suit the team’s strengths, and Hamilton narrowly missed pole position. A poor start, a speeding penalty and slow pit stops subsequently prevented both drivers from finishing on the podium.

    At Zandvoort, Ferrari believed it lost performance during qualifying after its tyres fell outside the ideal operating window. The team also missed further opportunities during the race to secure a podium on a circuit that suited the SF-26 and helped mask weaknesses in Ferrari’s power unit.

    Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

    Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Vasseur acknowledged that Ferrari cannot afford to leave points on the table if it is to close the gap to Mercedes and hold off a resurgent McLaren. He also stressed that the team has made significant progress in recent seasons.

    “Honestly, I think we made a huge step in terms of execution over the last two or three years. In terms of strategy, pitstops, we are doing well,” Vasseur said. “We missed opportunities mainly over the last two weekends, but I’m not sure that we missed more opportunities than McLaren or Mercedes from the beginning of the season.

    “But if you want to be the champion, you can’t leave points on the table. We have to score the maximum number of points that we can.”

    Ferrari focuses on execution as performance gaps shrink

    Ferrari has introduced an impressive number of upgrades in recent weeks and months. Further aerodynamic components and an upgraded engine are expected for the team’s home race at Monza this weekend.

    With the field continuing to converge in outright performance, Vasseur believes that maximising the car’s potential during every part of the race weekend is becoming increasingly important.

    “You have two races. You have the development race; race after race, you are bringing parts to improve the potential. But then you have also to be at the limit of your potential,” he pointed out. “Sometimes you are doing well, sometimes not.

    “It’s challenging this season because everything is new. Regulations, energy, tyres are different compared to last year, so it means that we have many more new questions on the table than we had last year, and it’s why we are all making more mistakes. But my job is also to minimise this number of mistakes. It doesn’t matter what the others are doing, but we have to minimise this.”

    Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

    Power unit performance remains crucial in Formula 1

    Although teams have developed a better understanding of the complex 2026 power units and the regulations governing their operation, energy deployment can still have a major impact on performance.

    “The power unit is the key. From one lap to the other you can still have a swing of performance,” the Frenchman cautioned. “It’s much less than what we had in China or Australia, where we were sometimes losing four, five tenths. Now we are losing one or two. But that’s four positions on the grid in Zandvoort. It means that we need to keep this [focus].

    “I think it’s more linked to the fact that it’s a new area of regulations and a challenging year, but it’s one of the focus areas of the team for sure.”

    Ferrari enters the Italian Grand Prix weekend 87 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ standings. Hamilton is level on points with George Russell, with both drivers 59 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • How Fred Vasseur Is Challenging Ferrari to Take More Risks

    How Fred Vasseur Is Challenging Ferrari to Take More Risks

    Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car, the SF-26, has emerged as one of the grid’s most innovative designs after debuting several striking aerodynamic solutions during winter testing in Bahrain.

    The car featured an unusual vane behind the exhaust pipe on the opening day, internally known as FTM. One day later, Ferrari introduced an even more eye-catching rear wing that rotated 180 degrees between cornering and straight-line modes. The design was quickly nicknamed the “Macarena wing.”

    Ferrari leads F1 innovation with SF-26

    The exhaust wing and upside-down rear wing are only the most visible examples of Ferrari’s technical innovation. While both elements have had a relatively minor performance impact, their unusual appearance attracted significant attention and highlighted a Ferrari team increasingly willing to lead rather than follow its rivals.

    Red Bull and McLaren have since introduced their own versions of the upside-down rear wing. Red Bull is believed to have developed its solution independently of Ferrari, while McLaren began work on its design after recognising the opportunity created by Ferrari’s concept.

    Ferrari’s exhaust wing has also been widely copied, although rival teams have reportedly struggled to replicate it as effectively. Ferrari made specific rear-end design choices to accommodate the system, making the FTM difficult to reverse-engineer.

    Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

    Photo by: Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Ferrari’s innovative 2026 car is the result of a deliberate cultural shift led by team principal Fred Vasseur. Since joining the team at the start of 2023, Vasseur has focused on reducing blame culture at Maranello and encouraging engineers to take greater risks.

    In an interview with Motorsport.com, Vasseur said Ferrari needed a change in mentality across every area of the team, not only aerodynamic design. In Formula 1, small performance gains can accumulate quickly, particularly as the field becomes more closely matched. Those margins can determine whether a driver starts from the front row or qualifies sixth.

    “It’s true that from day one I had the feeling that we have to take more risks,” Vasseur explained. “More risk on track, more risk on the innovation, on the development to take a different direction compared to the others, not to follow the others.”

    Ferrari’s willingness to take risks has not always produced the desired result. The team’s design choices, car set-up decisions and race strategies have occasionally taken it in the wrong direction. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have both won a grand prix this year in a more competitive Ferrari, but Vasseur believes the team’s decision-making will improve as it continues to adopt a bolder approach.

    “Sometimes it’s paying off, sometimes it’s not,” he said. “When you are a bit aggressive on strategy, sometimes you are a genius, like in Barcelona, and sometimes not, but we are the same guys on the pitwall.

    “I think we need to develop this mentality because you are improving on taking risks. You will improve in the risk assessment. You will improve in the capacity to make decisions, it means that we have to continue to do so, and we will do better and better race after race.”

    Cost cap raises the stakes for technical risks

    Changing an established company culture takes time, which explains why the process has remained a major focus for Vasseur. Innovation also carries significant risks under Formula 1’s cost cap and development restrictions, as teams cannot simply invest unlimited money in experimental ideas.

    “I’m very pleased with what we did in terms of options of development, because with the cost cap, when you are taking this direction, if it’s not paying off, it’s negative,” Vasseur explained. “It’s not that if it’s not paying off, it’s [just] a shame. You are putting your money, you are betting on something.”

    Vasseur said he was “more than keen” for Ferrari to continue leading Formula 1’s development race. He believes the team’s changing culture is giving engineers the confidence to innovate instead of playing safe because they fear the consequences of failure.

    “It was important for the guys in the team to feel the support from the company when they were innovating,” the Frenchman said. “I hope it’s only the start of this process, and that we will be able to continue to have the same approach and the same dynamic.

    “We will have a convergence of directions that we are taking, because one of the favourite parts of F1 is also to copy the others. But if we can stay one step ahead and lead the pack on some topics on some projects, I am more than keen.

    “For sure it will be more and more difficult, but it will be the same challenge for everybody.”

    Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

    Photo by: Michael Potts / LAT Images via Getty Images

  • Ferrari Faces Management Test Between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc After Dutch GP, Pundit Says

    Ferrari Faces Management Test Between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc After Dutch GP, Pundit Says

    Former F1 TV pundit Will Buxton has questioned whether Ferrari can effectively manage the relationship between seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

    Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast after the Dutch Grand Prix, Buxton contrasted Ferrari’s hesitation over team orders with Mercedes’ swift decision-making. Mercedes quickly arranged a position swap, while Ferrari chose not to intervene, prompting a series of frustrated radio messages from Hamilton.

    Ferrari’s team orders challenge

    Buxton said the incident was less a test of the two Ferrari drivers’ relationship than a test of how the team’s management handles competing priorities.

    Leclerc has raced for Ferrari since 2019 and is deeply established within the organisation. Hamilton joined the Maranello team in 2025 following a successful 12-year spell with Mercedes. After taking time to adapt to his new surroundings, the 41-year-old returned to top form in 2026.

    “Is this Ferrari’s first real test of the Charles and Lewis relationship? Well, if it’s not a test of their relationship, it’s a test of how the team handles it because Charles is the golden child, right? Always has been. He’s Ferrari through and through. He’s probably never going to race anywhere else. It’s his place, and he’s been there since he was a kid,” Buxton explained.

    “And then you’ve got Lewis, the GOAT, seven-time champion. You can’t please both, right? In an F1 team, one driver’s going to be p***ed, one driver’s going to come out happy. That’s just how it works out, especially in these kinds of scenarios. And you kind of have to take your medicine sometimes and realise that you’re going to p*** off one.

    “You can’t keep both of them happy in every single eventuality. It doesn’t happen. Lewis has experience of a team that executes immediately at Mercedes, and he wants that world championship-winning mentality at Ferrari because unless you have that, you’re never going to win a title.

    “So I can see the frustration in Lewis of being like, ‘Guys, we’re making ourselves look like d***s here. This is stupid.’ Because he has experience of the other side of the coin.

    “Is it a Ferrari problem? Is it a Charles-Lewis problem? How quickly do they have to nip it in the bud? Do they have to just figure out what they’re doing and actually get it written down, or understand that the level of execution that they have at the moment just simply isn’t what a championship-winning team has?”

  • F1 Driver Contracts: How Long Is Each Driver Signed For?

    F1 Driver Contracts: How Long Is Each Driver Signed For?

    F1 Driver Contracts: When Each Formula 1 Deal Expires

    Details of Formula 1 driver contracts are closely guarded, although the length of many deals is eventually made public. Here is how long each current F1 driver contract is believed to run, along with the potential moves that could shape the grid in the coming seasons.

    McLaren

    Lando Norris — 2030

    The reigning F1 world champion recently announced a new four-year contract with McLaren, keeping him at the team until at least 2030. The agreement is also believed to include clauses that could extend the deal beyond that point.

    Norris joined McLaren as a junior driver in 2017 before stepping up to its F1 team in 2019. He became world champion in 2025.

    Oscar Piastri — 2028

    Oscar Piastri signed a new McLaren contract at the start of 2025, tying him to the team until the end of 2028.

    The Australian made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2023 after a hearing before the FIA Contract Recognition Board settled a dispute between Alpine and McLaren.

    Mercedes

    George Russell — 2027

    Despite Mercedes’ previous pursuit of Max Verstappen, George Russell remains confident in his place at the team. The British driver is contracted through the end of the 2027 season.

    Russell joined Mercedes in 2022 after three seasons effectively on loan at Williams, where he made his F1 debut in 2019.

    Kimi Antonelli — 2027

    Kimi Antonelli is also believed to have a Mercedes contract running until the end of 2027.

    The Italian replaced Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes’ driver line-up after Hamilton left for Ferrari in 2025.

    Red Bull

    Max Verstappen — 2030

    Max Verstappen and Red Bull announced a new contract at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. The agreement runs until at least the end of 2030.

    Verstappen became a Red Bull junior in 2014 and made his F1 debut with sister team Toro Rosso in 2015 at the age of 17. He was promoted to the Red Bull team midway through the 2016 season.

    Isack Hadjar — 2026

    Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull contract is set to expire at the end of 2026 after he joined the senior team from Racing Bulls the previous winter.

    The French driver made his F1 debut with Racing Bulls in 2025 and immediately impressed, highlighted by a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix. His performances led to a rapid promotion to Red Bull for 2026.

    Ferrari

    Lewis Hamilton — 2027

    Ferrari has often declined to reveal the precise length of its drivers’ contracts, but all parties have confirmed that Lewis Hamilton’s deal runs until at least 2027. With contract clauses taken into account, he signed a three-year agreement when he joined in 2025.

    Hamilton made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007 and won his first world title in 2008. He moved to Mercedes in 2013 and won a further six world championships during his 12 years with the German manufacturer.

    Charles Leclerc — 2028

    Ferrari announced that Charles Leclerc had agreed to a new contract on the eve of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, saying he would remain with the Maranello team “for the coming seasons”. The deal is believed to keep him at Ferrari until at least the end of 2028, with an option for additional years.

    Leclerc was a Ferrari junior and made his F1 debut on loan at Sauber in 2018. He joined Ferrari’s driver line-up in 2019 and has remained a permanent fixture ever since.

    Williams

    Alex Albon — 2027

    Alex Albon signed a contract extension with Williams ahead of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, keeping him at the team until the end of 2027.

    The Anglo-Thai driver made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2019 before switching to Red Bull midway through the season. Red Bull dropped Albon at the end of 2020, and he spent one year away from F1 before returning to the grid with Williams in 2022.

    Carlos Sainz — 2028

    One day after Albon’s renewal was announced, Carlos Sainz’s future was confirmed with a multi-year Williams contract at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. The deal is believed to run until the end of 2028 and include contract clauses.

    Sainz has raced for almost half of the F1 grid since making his debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso. He switched to Renault in 2017, joined McLaren in 2019 for two seasons and then moved to Ferrari for four years. Sainz joined Williams in 2025.

    Racing Bulls

    Liam Lawson — 2026

    Like many Red Bull youngsters, Liam Lawson has largely worked on one-year contracts, and 2026 is no different. The New Zealander responded well after being demoted to Racing Bulls following just two rounds as a Red Bull driver and secured his short-term future with the team for the season.

    Lawson made his F1 debut in 2023 as an injury replacement for Daniel Ricciardo. In 2024, he permanently replaced Ricciardo at Racing Bulls from the United States Grand Prix, leading to his ill-fated promotion to Red Bull and subsequent return to Racing Bulls in 2025.

    Arvid Lindblad — 2026

    F1’s only rookie on the 2026 grid was handed a one-year contract to prove himself at Racing Bulls.

    The British driver has impressed during his debut season and appears set to retain his place on the grid for 2027.

    Aston Martin

    Fernando Alonso — 2026

    The biggest remaining question surrounding the 2027 F1 grid concerns Fernando Alonso. The 45-year-old agreed to a contract extension in 2024 that will keep him at Aston Martin until the end of the 2026 season.

    Alonso made his F1 debut with Minardi in 2001. After spending one year away from the grid as a Renault test driver, he returned in 2003 for a four-year stint that produced two world titles. Following an unsuccessful 2007 season with McLaren, Alonso returned to Renault for 2008 and 2009 before joining Ferrari for five years. He later had a second spell with McLaren amid its crisis with Honda and left both the team and F1 at the end of 2018. Alonso returned to F1 with Alpine in 2021 before switching to Aston Martin for 2023.

    Lance Stroll — 2026

    Lance Stroll is in the unique position of arguably having a timeless contract because his father, Lawrence Stroll, owns Aston Martin. He could therefore continue racing for the team for as long as both decide.

    A contract announced in 2024 covering “2025 and beyond” guarantees Stroll a place at least through the end of 2026, but the agreement is expected to continue indefinitely.

    The Canadian made his F1 debut with Williams in 2017 and spent two seasons there before joining Racing Point, which was rebranded as Aston Martin in 2021.

    Haas

    Esteban Ocon — 2026

    When Esteban Ocon joined Haas for 2025, the deal was described as multi-year, with options believed to cover 2027. However, neither the driver nor the team has so far indicated that an agreement extending beyond this season is in place.

    Ocon made his F1 debut midway through 2016 as a Mercedes junior with Manor. After the team folded, he joined Force India but lost his place in the line-up during Lawrence Stroll’s takeover at the end of 2018. After a year away, Ocon returned to F1 with Renault in 2020, remaining there until 2024 before moving to Haas.

    Oliver Bearman — 2026

    Oliver Bearman became a full-time Haas F1 driver in 2025, and his current contract is believed to expire at the end of 2026.

    The British driver made a surprise F1 debut for Ferrari as a substitute for Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He made two further appearances that year with Haas, driving at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the banned Kevin Magnussen and again for Magnussen at the Brazilian Grand Prix when the Dane was unwell. Bearman became a permanent Haas driver in 2025.

    Audi

    Nico Hulkenberg — 2026

    Nico Hulkenberg joined Sauber in 2025 ahead of its transition to Audi on a multi-year contract. The agreement is expected to carry him into 2027 if both parties agree.

    Hulkenberg’s F1 career began with Williams in 2010. After a year away, he returned with Force India in 2012, joined Sauber for 2013 and reunited with Force India the following year, staying until the end of 2016. Two seasons with Renault ended with Hulkenberg failing to secure a full-time seat for 2020 and 2021, although he made five substitute appearances for Racing Point and Aston Martin. He returned to a full-time F1 seat with Haas in 2023, spending two seasons there before joining the Sauber-Audi project.

    Gabriel Bortoleto — 2026

    Gabriel Bortoleto made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2025 ahead of the team’s transition to Audi. Like Hulkenberg, his contract is described as multi-year and is expected to be extended into 2027.

    Alpine

    Pierre Gasly — 2028

    Pierre Gasly signed a new multi-year contract with Alpine in 2025 that will keep him at the team until at least the end of 2028.

    Gasly made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso as a mid-season replacement in 2017 before completing a full season with the team in 2018. A brief spell at Red Bull in 2019 ended with his demotion back to Toro Rosso, where he remained until the end of 2022. The French driver joined Alpine in 2023 and has stayed with the team since.

    Franco Colapinto — 2027

    Franco Colapinto emerged as one of the biggest winners in a stable 2026 driver market, as limited movement elsewhere gave Alpine the opportunity to assess him. The Argentinian driver has consequently been retained by the Enstone team for 2027.

    Colapinto made his F1 debut with Williams midway through 2024 but found his path to a full-time seat blocked. He switched to Alpine for 2025 and again joined as a mid-season replacement, this time doing enough to secure a full-time contract from 2026.

    Cadillac

    Sergio Perez — 2027

    Sergio Perez secured an F1 comeback with the new Cadillac team on a multi-year contract that will keep him there until at least the end of 2027.

    Perez began his F1 career with Sauber in 2011, impressing enough to earn a McLaren seat for 2013. He moved to Force India in 2014 and played an integral role in saving the team from administration before joining Red Bull at the end of 2020. After a promising start in Milton Keynes, Perez was dropped at the end of 2024 before his contract expired. He spent 2025 away from F1 before returning with Cadillac in 2026.

    Valtteri Bottas — 2027

    Valtteri Bottas also returned to F1 with Cadillac. The Finn has a multi-year contract that is set to run until the end of 2027.

    Bottas made his F1 debut with Williams in 2013 before unexpectedly joining Mercedes in 2017. He helped the team win five constructors’ world championships before moving to Alfa Romeo in 2022. His three-year spell at Alfa Romeo and Sauber ended in 2024, followed by one season away from the grid before he joined Cadillac for 2026.

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Lewis Hamilton “Didn’t Help Himself” With Ferrari Radio Messages, Says Guenther Steiner

    Lewis Hamilton “Didn’t Help Himself” With Ferrari Radio Messages, Says Guenther Steiner

    Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Lewis Hamilton made Ferrari’s Dutch Grand Prix tensions worse with his frustrated team radio messages.

    The seven-time world champion repeatedly questioned Ferrari’s strategy during the race at Zandvoort, urging the Maranello team to let him pass team-mate Charles Leclerc, who was running a different strategy. When Ferrari eventually brought Leclerc into the pits, Hamilton complained that the team had lost too much time.

    Hamilton later sarcastically asked whether Ferrari was using him as a “guinea pig” after leaving him on old hard tyres.

    Steiner compares Ferrari and Mercedes strategy planning

    Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner compared Ferrari’s handling of team orders with Mercedes’ preparation and said Ferrari had not organised the situation as effectively.

    “Obviously, it was not as well organised as the silver people. They were well organised,” Steiner said during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, comparing Mercedes and Ferrari.

    “They had the discussion before and obviously that discussion was not as heated as that one after for Ferrari because when you go into the drivers before the race and tell them what is what.”

    Steiner said Ferrari’s pre-race discussions should have been more detailed.

    “I think that one was not done in the detail Mercedes stated, and that caused what happened.”

    Hamilton criticised for Ferrari team radio messages

    Although Steiner argued that Ferrari could have prepared its drivers more thoroughly for possible team-order scenarios, he also said Hamilton’s criticism of the team was counterproductive.

    “I don’t think Lewis helped himself being so critical because when you’re sitting on the pitwall  and you hear that, it’s like, ‘Oh this guy’s actually trying to vouch too much for himself. He doesn’t see the team anymore here.’

    “You could say, ‘Hey, would it not be better if he lets me pass, I’m faster,’ instead of saying, ‘Oh you made me lose time here.’”

    Hamilton later addressed his Dutch Grand Prix team radio comments on social media, accepting responsibility for his frustrated reaction.

    “I’ve listened back to some of my radio and TV comments. In the heat of the moment, frustration can come out, especially when you care as deeply as I do,” he posted on Instagram.

    “But that wasn’t the best version of me. I take responsibility for that, and I’ll be better. That passion comes from believing in this team, the people in it, and what we’re building together. The direction is clear. The belief is there. And the fight is absolutely still on.”

  • Ferrari Urged to Support Lewis Hamilton as Guenther Steiner Warns of Team Orders

    Ferrari Urged to Support Lewis Hamilton as Guenther Steiner Warns of Team Orders

    Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Ferrari must establish clear rules of engagement and support Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc if the team is to remain in contention for the 2026 Formula 1 championship.

    Ferrari’s internal driver dynamic came under scrutiny after the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where contrasting strategies created tension between Hamilton and Leclerc. Hamilton was running on fresher tyres and had stronger pace, but was held up behind his Ferrari team-mate. The delay cost the seven-time world champion valuable time and led to frustrated radio complaints.

    Steiner calls for clear Ferrari team orders

    Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner argued that Ferrari should have agreed on potential team orders before the race rather than trying to manage the situation during it.

    “You cannot implement team orders during a race,” Steiner explained. “You need to agree them beforehand. The realistic thing is, can Charles really win the world championship? Maybe not. And who is in front? Lewis.

    “I haven’t done the calculations of how realistic it is for him to win the world championship, but if one of the two can win, it is Lewis. So, as somebody else has shown, if you want to win, it’s very tight up front there. You need to put your money on the guy who has got the better chance.

    Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari. Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

    “That’s the guy in front, who has got more points, and that is the only selling point to Charles. ‘Hey buddy, your team-mate has done better up to now. Now he’s number one.’”

    Fred Vasseur must lead Ferrari’s championship strategy

    Steiner said Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is responsible for making the team’s position clear to both drivers and deciding whether one driver should receive priority in the title fight.

    “Fred, that is his job,” he said. “I don’t think John Elkann should or would get involved in it because if he gets involved in that one at that stage, he needs to run the team.

    “But I think Fred is very much in control of it because Fred needs to win a world championship.”

  • Ferrari to Introduce Upgraded F1 Engine at Italian Grand Prix

    Ferrari to Introduce Upgraded F1 Engine at Italian Grand Prix

    Ferrari will introduce its ADUO-permitted engine upgrade at the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, alongside aerodynamic improvements and Monza-specific components for its home race.

    After reliability checks confirmed Ferrari was more than 4% behind the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) benchmark, the team was granted permission to use two engine upgrades during the season. Ferrari has now chosen to deploy its first power unit update immediately.

    Ferrari engine upgrade targets Mercedes deficit

    Ferrari’s engineers, led by Enrico Gualtieri, have approved a new power unit featuring a revised combustion chamber and turbocharger. The upgrade is expected to deliver an additional 15 horsepower, potentially halving Ferrari’s performance deficit to Mercedes’ engine, regarded as the strongest all-round package.

    Ferrari is also set to benefit from new fuel developed by Shell. The 067/7 engine, permitted under the ADUO regulations, has passed the required reliability threshold in repeated bench tests.

    The team is therefore targeting a strong result in front of its home crowd at Monza. Engineers are focusing on maximizing peak power and adjusting torque delivery to improve the distribution of electrical energy.

    Ferrari prepares Monza aerodynamic updates

    Ferrari will also introduce a more aerodynamically efficient version of its Macarena rear wing, which has not been used at previous events. The team will retain the blown exhaust, although it could be modified if further drag reduction is required at Monza.

    The Scuderia will run a special livery celebrating Michael Schumacher’s success with Ferrari. The Italian team sees the Italian Grand Prix as an opportunity to restart its title challenge after failing to reach the podium in the last two rounds.

    Ferrari has received an additional boost from Mercedes, which has confirmed that Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid after taking a full power unit change. Reliability problems earlier in the season have already pushed the Italian driver beyond his permitted engine allocation.

    Antonelli’s Mercedes team-mate, George Russell, is not currently expected to receive a penalty. Baku is considered a possible venue for a power unit change because of its similar track characteristics to Monza, allowing Mercedes to place one driver at the front while attempting to disrupt Ferrari’s challenge.

    Monza has not been a strong venue for Ferrari in recent years. The team has won only three of the last 19 Italian Grands Prix, but it knows it must respond after being outscored by McLaren in the previous two rounds and falling 87 points behind Mercedes in the Formula 1 world constructors’ championship.

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Fred Vasseur Identifies Ferrari’s Next Target After “Stronger Than Mercedes” Zandvoort Pace

    Fred Vasseur Identifies Ferrari’s Next Target After “Stronger Than Mercedes” Zandvoort Pace

    Ferrari had the race pace to challenge Mercedes at the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, but a difficult qualifying session and imperfect race execution prevented the team from achieving the strongest possible result, according to team principal Fred Vasseur.

    Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished directly behind George Russell at Zandvoort. Vasseur believes Ferrari was faster than Mercedes over race distance, but both Ferrari drivers started outside the top two rows after qualifying, while slow execution during the race cost the team further opportunities.

    “I think the pace was strong, I think at least stronger than Mercedes,” the Frenchman told Sky Sports, “but it is like it is, that we have to now have a deep look on what we did and what we did wrong.”

    Ferrari lost ground through starts and pit strategy

    Leclerc also endured a slow getaway at the second start, allowing Oscar Piastri to pass him around the outside at Turn 1. The overtake was particularly notable because Piastri was running hard tyres while Leclerc had softs.

    Ferrari later made a slow pit stop with Leclerc and missed an opportunity to move ahead of Russell after Leclerc had cleared Piastri. Vasseur said the Ferrari’s performance was “not an issue” in the Netherlands, but the team failed to unlock its potential during Saturday’s qualifying session.

    “I think the pace this weekend was good, at least, in both races,” he noted, speaking to the media after the race. “If we missed something this weekend it’s more the quali first. Not in the sprint quali, but in the [main] quali, we had a poor preparation with an out-lap and so on.

    “And the execution [in the race] was not that good, because we had a very strong start in the first start, and in the second start we lost position with soft compared to some hard competitors, and this is unexpected. And then we had a poor pitstop and then it was difficult. But the pace itself was decent, it’s not an issue at all.”

    Tyre preparation hurt Ferrari in qualifying

    Leclerc qualified third for Friday’s sprint race, only 0.055 seconds behind Russell, while Hamilton was sixth, 0.624 seconds off pole position. However, both Ferrari drivers struggled to generate enough tyre temperature in Saturday’s qualifying session and ultimately qualified fifth and sixth.

    Ferrari had even used an additional preparation lap compared with its main rivals in Q3. Hamilton identified tyre performance as the key problem after qualifying.

    “I think the tyres were the biggest culprit today, just really struggling to get the tyres to work,” he commented after qualifying. “They’re not really in in the first sector, that’s where we lost most of our time, and then they get better through the lap. Just do an out-lap and a prep lap, and the tyres are still not ready for Turn 1, it’s just nuts.”

    Asked whether Ferrari should focus on upgrading the car or wait for its new power unit before targeting improvements in qualifying, Vasseur said the team first needed to understand how to prepare its tyres more effectively for flying laps.

    “For sure, it’s always better to have a better aero, better suspension, better engine, it’s always helping,” Vasseur said. “But I think if we miss something in quali… but it was not true all the season. We had some races like Spielberg where we did a better job in quali than in the race. We were in the first row, we were second and third and we struggled a bit more in the race.

    “The issue is that in quali, it’s a lot about the out-lap preparation, tyre management. But it’s a different approach of the tyre management in quali than in the race. You can be good on one side and not on the other one, from one weekend to the other. This weekend, I think we had a decent approach for the sprint quali, a bit more difficult [on Saturday] with cold conditions. And it’s so tight that on the sprint quali you have four cars in six-hundredths of seconds.

    “You saw Lewis on the first day. He had to slow down a little bit after Turn 10 [on his outlap], because he had two or three cars in front of him and he lost [time in] Turn 1. It cost him two or three tenths and in this case you are losing four positions and it’s becoming a poor quali. It’s true for us, but it’s true for everybody, that you have to put a lot of effort in the preparation of each lap.

    “If we have to learn something from the weekend, it’s not about the pure potential. It’s more about execution these two days. We were able to be there in terms of performance at some stages of the weekend, but we have to be there always.”

    Ferrari remains second in the standings

    Ferrari leaves Zandvoort second in the championship standings, 87 points behind Mercedes. McLaren has won the last two races with Lando Norris and reduced its deficit to Ferrari to 75 points ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

  • F1 Fans Divided Over Lewis Hamilton’s Frustrated Team Radio Message

    F1 Fans Divided Over Lewis Hamilton’s Frustrated Team Radio Message

    Formula 1 fans have delivered their verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s “sassy” team radio messages during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where the Ferrari driver openly expressed his frustration with the team’s strategy.

    The seven-time world champion complained that he was being held up by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, despite the Monegasque driver running on a different strategy.

    Hamilton later questioned whether he was being used as a “guinea pig” after asking to pit and change his hard tyres, only for Ferrari to keep him out on track.

    Although Hamilton has since apologised for his comments and admitted that he did not show the best version of himself during the race, fans debated the incident on social media.

    “Ferrari pitwall is the one who should apologise; either they should clearly tell Charles to ‘box or swap with Lewis’ 1 lap before,” one fan commented on Reddit.

    Another added: “I’ve been saying this from Hungary, Ferrari want to play fair to their drivers, but they need to realise each race they need to prioritise which one has better strategy.”

    A third fan criticised Ferrari’s approach, writing: “Why bother having your drivers on different strategies if you aren’t going to use team orders to maximise results… F***ing Ferrari man. It’s like they want us all to think they’re playing 3D chess, problem being they showed up with checkers pieces,”

    Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari. Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

    “Loving sassy Lewis,” another fan posted. However, one commenter argued that Hamilton should have kept his criticism for a private post-race discussion.

    “I hate to see this slander broadcast. It’s just disrespectful towards his team. The team that provides him with the second-best car on the grid. Save it for face-to-face, when the cameras are not on you, Lewis.”

    Hamilton accepted responsibility for his comments in a post-race message to fans.

    “I’ve listened back to some of my radio and TV comments. In the heat of the moment, frustration can come out, especially when you care as deeply as I do. But that wasn’t the best version of me.

    “I take responsibility for that, and I’ll be better. That passion comes from believing in this team, the people in it, and what we’re building together. The direction is clear. The belief is there. And the fight is absolutely still on.”

    Source: www.motorsport.com