Ferrari’s Hungarian GP Misfire and Verstappen’s Frustration with Steward Inquiry

The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix was expected to be a turning point for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who seemed poised to challenge for a much-needed win after securing pole position and leading comfortably through the early stages of the race. Yet, the story took a sudden turn that left fans, analysts, and the team itself scrambling for answers. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen found himself summoned to the stewards’ office over an incident with Lewis Hamilton — something he deemed unnecessary, adding another layer of controversy to an already eventful weekend.

A Weekend of Two Halves for Leclerc

Charles Leclerc’s Hungarian Grand Prix weekend was, for the most part, picture-perfect—until it wasn’t. The Monegasque driver started on pole, held the lead off the line, and looked in full control during the early stints. He was able to fend off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during the first round of pit stops and showed competitive pace across the opening 40 laps.

But after that halfway mark, everything unraveled.

The Ferrari driver began to lose significant lap time, eventually being overtaken by Piastri and falling well off the pace. Over the final 30 laps, Leclerc dropped a staggering 37 seconds to the Australian driver, a gap that raised alarm bells throughout the paddock. Leclerc was audibly frustrated over team radio, describing the SF-24 as “undrivable” and questioning the team’s handling of the situation.

While Leclerc later admitted he may have been too critical in the heat of the moment, the core issue remained: something was clearly wrong with the car, and neither the team nor the driver had a definitive explanation during the race.

Ferrari Team Boss: “We Have to Investigate”

Team principal Frédéric Vasseur addressed the issue post-race, expressing concern and confusion over the sudden drop in performance. Speaking to RacingNews365, Vasseur said:

“The situation was quite strange. We were in control for the first 40 laps of the race. We were very in control during the first stint, a bit more difficult during the second, but it was still manageable—and the last was a disaster. The car was very difficult to drive. The balance was not there.”

Vasseur hinted at a possible chassis-related issue but stopped short of confirming anything without a full investigation:

“Honestly, we don’t know exactly what happened. It means we have to investigate to see if something broke on the chassis side or whatever. At one stage I thought he would never finish the race. So we can be lucky in this situation to score points from P4.”

Leclerc later clarified that it was indeed a chassis issue, which explains why he struggled so much despite being in contention for victory early on. While visibly disappointed, he took a mature stance after the race, acknowledging that his frustrations should have been better contained and that the team did everything they could under the circumstances.

The Silver Lining for Ferrari?

While missing out on a potential win was undoubtedly painful, Ferrari and Leclerc can still draw some positives from the Hungarian Grand Prix. Finishing P4 despite the car’s mechanical struggles was no small feat, and it demonstrates the team’s underlying performance capability when things go right.

Leclerc’s pole position and early dominance also serve as evidence that Ferrari is closing the gap to McLaren and Red Bull—particularly on slower, more technical tracks like the Hungaroring.

If the team can resolve the mysterious chassis issue and avoid reliability pitfalls in upcoming races, they could emerge as consistent contenders again.

Verstappen vs. Hamilton: Déjà Vu at Turn 4

While Ferrari battled mechanical demons, the Verstappen-Hamilton rivalry flared up again—albeit briefly. During the race, Verstappen, armed with fresher tires, made a bold move on Hamilton going into Turn 4. The move resulted in Hamilton running wide and Verstappen taking the position. Due to limited camera angles—partially blocked by trees—fans and officials were left unsure whether Verstappen had forced Hamilton off the track unfairly.

After the race, the FIA stewards summoned both drivers to review the incident.

Surprisingly, Verstappen appeared alone.

“Well, the thing is that nothing happened. We didn’t even touch. That’s the thing. So for me, it’s a bit difficult to understand why we have this investigation after the race,” Verstappen told The Race. “We explained our side—well, Lewis is not there—but we explained our sides of the story.”

Verstappen seemed particularly baffled by the fact that Hamilton didn’t attend the hearing, interpreting his absence as a sign that the seven-time world champion didn’t believe the incident warranted further scrutiny.

“I don’t think Lewis actually felt a lot for it because if he really felt something for it, then of course he’s there in the steward’s room, right?”

No Further Action: A Just Verdict?

The stewards ultimately ruled “no further action” on the incident, confirming Verstappen’s stance that there was no foul play involved. Still, the summons itself stirred debate.

Many fans questioned why Verstappen was even called in, considering the lack of contact and the nature of the move—hard but fair racing, as many would describe it. Critics argue that F1 risks over-regulating racing incidents, especially those involving high-profile drivers with a history.

On the flip side, some support the stewards’ cautious approach, citing that racing at the edge demands thorough review to ensure consistent enforcement of rules. Given the contentious history between Verstappen and Hamilton—most notably during the 2021 season—it’s understandable that race control would want to take a closer look.

A Weekend to Forget for Red Bull and Mercedes?

Both Verstappen and Hamilton, despite the Turn 4 flashpoint, ended up having relatively underwhelming weekends. Red Bull, once dominant, is now facing serious pressure from McLaren and Ferrari, while Mercedes continues to struggle with inconsistency.

“The most important thing is that we have to look at our performance, which was not good,” Verstappen emphasized.

The Dutch driver’s focus is now clearly on improving Red Bull’s form rather than engaging in unnecessary controversies.

Looking Ahead

As the F1 circus moves to Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix, both Ferrari and Red Bull have plenty to reflect on. For Ferrari, the top priority is diagnosing and fixing Leclerc’s chassis issue to ensure that they can capitalize on their car’s raw speed. With Carlos Sainz also showing improved pace in recent races, the Scuderia needs to maximize every opportunity to claw back points in both championships.

Red Bull, meanwhile, will need to fend off McLaren’s charge while refining their performance across various circuit types. Verstappen’s frustration post-race signals that even small incidents can weigh heavily when the competitive landscape tightens.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix offered a microcosm of the current F1 season: unpredictable, emotionally charged, and full of narrative twists. From Leclerc’s heartbreak to Verstappen’s baffling trip to the stewards, the weekend highlighted how thin the margin is between glory and frustration.

As the season hits its final stretch, every detail—whether it’s a chassis bolt or a wheel-to-wheel battle—matters more than ever. Ferrari and Red Bull may be on different trajectories, but both find themselves chasing answers—and victories.

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