Leclerc triggers the storm: publicly defends Hamilton among the criticisms after the failure at the Hungary GP – a short but full of implication phrase that silence the entire Ferrari garage
The Hungary 2025 GP has left a trail of disappointment and controversy in the Ferrari box. But to make Maranello tremble even more was not only the disastrous result on the track, but the words – few, but very heavy – pronounced by Charles Leclerc in defense of Lewis Hamilton, target of increasingly heated internal criticisms.
The seven times world champion, who landed in Ferrari with great expectations, lived one of the most dark weekends of his recent career. Qualification under tone, wrong strategy, and an anonymous race ended outside the points. The paddock exploded in a wave of discontent, with indiscretions of internal frictions, tensions with engineers and even with Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur.
Just as the climate seemed to turn to collapse, Charles Leclerc broke the silence unexpectedly. During a post-gara interview, to the question about how much Hamilton’s contribution was really helping the development of the SF-25, Monegasque replied dry:
“Some criticisms always come from those who do not understand how difficult it is to change a car … or an entire mentality.”
A short, hissing phrase, but sufficient to create frost throughout the Ferrari box. Some read it as an arrow to the engineers. Others, like a clear stance against the toxic environment that would seem to have created around Hamilton. In any case, Leclerc made a rare and significant gesture in the hyper-compliance world of Formula 1: he protected his teammate in public, risking attracting further tensions with the management.
According to sources close to the team, Leclerc’s comment would have irritated some members of the technical staff, already tired of external and internal pressure. However, many fans and analysts praised the maturity of the pilot number 16, which – despite being in a delicate position in the race to the title – chose the unity rather than the division.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton preferred not to comment directly directly from the episode, but his gesture in the paddock – a hint of head towards Leclerc during debriefing – was immortalized by multiple cameras and interpreted as a silent thanks.
With the summer break at the gates, and a Ferrari split between internal discontent and media pressure, the situation appears explosive. But Leclerc’s gesture could represent a turning point: either the team is reappeared, or 2025 risks transforming itself into a nightmare year.
One thing is certain: after his words, in the Ferrari box no one can pretend nothing more.
