Ferrari present indicators of progress in Canadian GP as David Coulthard praises improved communication with Charles Leclerc
Ferrari as soon as once more left the Canadian Grand Prix on the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal grappling with their place within the 2025 Formulation 1 pecking order, as they appeared to have solely the fourth-fastest automobile in Montreal. Whereas Mercedes joined McLaren and Purple Bull within the listing of race winners this season—due to a commanding drive from George Russell—Ferrari have been left attempting to salvage factors amid a irritating weekend.
McLaren have emerged because the dominant drive in 2025, constantly setting the tempo, however Purple Bull and Max Verstappen have ensured a aggressive title struggle by staying in shut pursuit. Amid this, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have been restricted to fifth and sixth-place finishes respectively at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Lewis Hamilton encountered points throughout the race, together with brake complaints over staff radio and injury to his ground after an unlucky collision with a groundhog. In the meantime, Charles Leclerc made regular good points following a difficult qualifying session however was by no means really in rivalry for a podium end, which might have been his fourth of the yr.
Regardless of the modest outcome, former F1 driver David Coulthard noticed a key improvement that advised progress throughout the Ferrari camp. He picked up on a second of in-race radio communication between Charles Leclerc and his race engineer Bryan Bozzi that, in his view, mirrored a extra assertive and coherent operational method—one thing the Scuderia has been criticized for missing in current seasons.
David Coulthard applauds Ferrari’s authoritative race name with Leclerc in Montreal
Whereas working as a part of Channel 4’s broadcast staff for the Canadian Grand Prix, Coulthard famous a radio change wherein Charles Leclerc’s engineer instructed him to change to “Plan B.” Leclerc, nevertheless, countered with a desire for “Plan C,” which his engineer acknowledged with out debate. Based on the previous Formulation 1 driver, this simple and decisive interplay marked a notable change in Ferrari’s strategic demeanor.
David Coulthard later remarked that any such communication was one thing Ferrari had traditionally struggled with, typically exhibiting hesitancy or conflicting directions. In his evaluation, the readability and alignment between driver and staff in Montreal represented a constructive shift. He believed that when a staff and its driver are absolutely in sync, it breeds confidence and in the end results in improved efficiency on observe.
Charles Leclerc’s technique questions spark criticism from Valsecchi and Villeneuve
Nonetheless, not all observers have been satisfied by Charles Leclerc’s conduct throughout the race. The Monegasque driver, who has questioned Ferrari’s technique a number of occasions this season, later expressed doubts over the staff’s choices in Montreal as properly. He indicated that he believed a one-stop technique may need been viable, though that will have required an extended remaining stint on the medium tyres.
The late-race security automobile introduced out by Lando Norris’ crash may have allowed the Ferrari driver to pit with minimal time loss, however by that stage, he could have already compromised his efficiency with extreme tyre put on. In a race the place tyre degradation proved a significant problem, the result of any alternate technique remained speculative at finest.
Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve weighed in on the radio messages, suggesting that Ferrari wanted higher cohesion between the pit wall and the cockpit. Whereas his criticism was measured, he did level to a scarcity of constant alignment as one thing the staff should handle going ahead.
Nevertheless, Davide Valsecchi was way more direct. The Italian pundit dismissed Charles Leclerc’s in-race commentary and acknowledged that the driving force ought to deal with his efficiency somewhat than second-guessing technique choices mid-race. The 2012 GP2 Collection champion implied that given the Monegasque’s errors earlier within the weekend, he wasn’t in a robust place to critique the staff’s calls and insisted that it was time for him to focus on execution somewhat than questioning directions.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
