Leclerc Raises Alarm Over Ferrari’s Dutch GP Struggles

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Charles Leclerc labeled Ferrari’s performance at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix practice sessions in Zandvoort as a “wake-up call.” Finishing 14th in FP1 and eighth in FP2, Leclerc trailed nearly a second behind Lando Norris. This article details Ferrari’s challenges, Leclerc’s identified issues, and the team’s outlook, based on the official report from RacingNews365.

Ferrari’s Disappointing Performance

In Free Practice 1 (FP1), Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton finished 14th and 15th, respectively, 1.6 seconds off Norris’ pace (McLaren). In FP2, Hamilton improved to sixth, while Leclerc climbed to eighth, 0.096 seconds slower than Hamilton and 0.944 seconds behind Norris. “This was a very, very difficult Friday, probably the worst of the season,” Leclerc stated, calling it a “wake-up call” post-summer break.

The standout performance of Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin, who finished second in FP2 just 0.087 seconds off Norris, added pressure on Ferrari. Leclerc acknowledged McLaren’s dominance and Aston Martin’s surprising pace, emphasizing the need for significant improvements.

Technical Issues with SF-25

Leclerc pinpointed two specific corners in Zandvoort where Ferrari’s SF-25 lost significant time. “We’re losing 90% of our time in two corners, and there’s something our car can’t do right now,” he explained. He noted that such concentrated time loss is unusual, as deficits typically spread across the track. “We’re trying to understand why it’s so focused on these corners and find a solution,” Leclerc added.

Led by Fred Vasseur, Ferrari faces the challenge of resolving these technical shortcomings before qualifying. Leclerc remains cautiously optimistic, stating, “I’m looking forward to turning things around and trying for a miracle in qualifying, but it won’t be easy.”

Competition at the Front

Beyond McLaren’s dominance with Norris and Oscar Piastri, Aston Martin’s strong showing increases the pressure on Ferrari. Max Verstappen of Red Bull struggled in fifth, while George Russell of Mercedes showed promise in fourth. Leclerc recognizes the need for Ferrari to close the gap to these rivals.

With Fred Vasseur at the helm, Ferrari must collaborate with engineers like Adrian Newey to optimize the SF-25. Meanwhile, McLaren, led by Zak Brown, and Red Bull, backed by Christian Horner, remain formidable challengers.

Leclerc and Ferrari face a tough weekend in Zandvoort, but the team is determined to improve before qualifying. With the identified weakness in two corners, Ferrari’s focus is on finding technical solutions to boost pace. Though Leclerc is realistic about the challenges, his and Hamilton’s expertise could help Ferrari recover. Fans await whether the team can overcome this crisis in the remaining sessions.