Ferrari’s Hungarian Nightmare: Leclerc’s Collapse, Hamilton’s Struggles, and a Near-Disqualification

As the 2025 Formula 1 title fight between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri intensifies, the Hungarian Grand Prix offered another chapter of high drama—but not in the way Ferrari fans had hoped. While McLaren’s dynamic duo sparred for supremacy at the front, Ferrari’s own narrative was a chaotic mix of heartbreak, controversy, and near-disaster. Charles Leclerc, who started on a miraculous pole, saw his race unravel spectacularly. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, endured one of the worst weekends of his legendary career, still grappling with life in red.

Behind the scenes, tensions were simmering. Leclerc’s angry mid-race radio message hinted at deeper problems within the Scuderia, while Hamilton’s lack of pace—and later comments—suggested growing discontent. The Hungarian GP may have delivered a decent haul of points for Ferrari, but the circumstances surrounding their weekend make it feel like a defeat.

Leclerc: From Pole Position to P4—And a Furious Radio Outburst

Charles Leclerc’s pole position at the Hungaroring was as brilliant as it was baffling. On a circuit known for its high-downforce demands, Leclerc ran a surprisingly low-downforce setup, yet still managed to eclipse his rivals by nearly 0.3 seconds. It was Ferrari’s first pole of the season and a major statement—at least, on the surface.

But this dream soon turned into a nightmare. Just after the halfway point of the race, Leclerc’s pace vanished. Oscar Piastri breezed past him with shocking ease, followed shortly by George Russell. A dejected Leclerc would limp home in fourth—still valuable points, but far from the victory he was on course for.

What caught the attention of fans and pundits alike was Leclerc’s furious radio message: “You made a change to the car during the pit stop. I told you we needed to discuss that beforehand. You’ve made it undriveable!” It was a rare moment of public frustration from the usually composed Monégasque driver.

After the race, Ferrari attempted to sweep the issue under the rug, citing a “chassis concern” that appeared during the second stint. Team principal Fred Vasseur admitted, “We don’t know exactly what happened. Something broke, perhaps on the chassis side. At one point, I thought we wouldn’t finish the race at all.”

Leclerc echoed this sentiment, but few in the paddock believed the official line. The timing of the performance drop, coinciding with his second pit stop, suggested that something was changed deliberately—likely the ride height, which may have been increased mid-race to avoid falling foul of plank wear regulations.

The Ride Height Gamble

Ferrari’s strategic blunder in Hungary likely stemmed from an overly aggressive setup that prioritized qualifying performance. By running the SF25 extremely close to the ground, Ferrari exploited the aerodynamic sweet spot of their car, enabling Leclerc to claim pole.

However, such setups come with risks. Excessive plank wear—caused by the car scraping the track—can lead to disqualification, as seen earlier in the season when Ferrari’s low ride height in China led to a DQ post-race. In Hungary, they seemed to dance dangerously close to that line again.

The low ride height was likely paired with reduced downforce to prevent excessive plank wear at high speeds. The sparks flying off Leclerc’s Ferrari throughout the early part of the race were clear indicators of how low the car was running.

After witnessing this, the team seemingly panicked. To avoid disqualification, they raised the ride height—possibly via tire pressure or another method—during Leclerc’s second stop. That move may have preserved legality, but it destroyed his performance.

This theory is supported by Leclerc’s earlier radio message, around lap 22: “I can feel what we discussed before the race. We need to discuss this before we do it. We are going to lose this race with this thing.” It’s likely he was referring to tire pressures or suspension tweaks that affected the car’s behavior and grip levels.

Ultimately, Ferrari were left with a car that was no longer competitive and a driver who was furious that such a critical change had been made without his consent.

Hamilton’s Downward Spiral

While Leclerc’s weekend ended in bitter disappointment, Lewis Hamilton’s never really got going. The seven-time world champion qualified a dismal 12th and finished in the same position, despite the retirement of a Haas car and a Racing Bulls entry ahead of him.

Hamilton has struggled to adapt to Ferrari since his blockbuster move from Mercedes. So far in 2025, he trails Leclerc 12-5 in qualifying and has been, on average, 0.146 seconds slower on Saturdays. This pattern mirrors his final season at Mercedes, where George Russell often had the upper hand in one-lap pace.

In Hungary, Hamilton made no excuses. “I drove terribly. It is what it is. I’m just useless,” he said after qualifying. Despite a shock sprint win earlier this season in China, he has rarely looked like a threat in race trim, and Hungary laid bare just how far off the pace he still is.

To make matters worse, he was overtaken during the race by rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, driving the Mercedes Hamilton vacated. Antonelli’s rise is beginning to draw uncomfortable comparisons, with many questioning if Hamilton’s best days are behind him.

Rumors even swirled about an early Ferrari exit. Would he quit before season’s end? Hamilton shot those down post-race, saying, “I’ll be back after the summer break. I’m looking forward to coming back.”

Still, his ominous statement that “there’s a lot going on in the background that’s not great” suggests internal friction within Ferrari’s camp. And his quip that Ferrari should “change driver” after qualifying certainly won’t help morale.

A Crisis of Identity at Ferrari?

What unfolded in Hungary was more than just a tactical blunder. It highlighted a fundamental issue at Ferrari: the lack of transparency and coherence in decision-making. Leclerc’s frustration came from not being consulted. Hamilton’s confusion stems from inconsistency in performance and communication. These are not issues of car performance alone; they are cultural, operational, and strategic.

Ferrari’s ride height gamble nearly worked. Had rain fallen, or had a late safety car neutralized the race, they may have escaped with a win—or at least a podium. But F1 is not a sport built on “what ifs.” The team took a risk, and when the data suggested danger, they flinched.

Meanwhile, McLaren’s drivers are fighting for wins every weekend with a clear direction and trust in their machinery. Ferrari, despite the individual brilliance of Leclerc and Hamilton, continue to self-sabotage through opaque decision-making and risky strategies.

What Now?

Ferrari head into the summer break bruised but not broken. Leclerc’s pole shows the SF25 has potential, at least under certain conditions. Hamilton will hope the team uses the break to reset and recalibrate. But both drivers need more than just upgrades—they need clarity, communication, and a united team behind them.

The second half of the season offers opportunities for redemption. But unless Ferrari can stop creating their own chaos, the gap to McLaren and Red Bull will only grow wider.

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