Following his sensational lap in Saturday's qualifying which saw Charles Leclerc claim a shock pole position for Ferrari, the Monegasque endured a heartbreaking result at the Hungarian Grand Prix despite his impressive pace during his first two stints of the race. F1Technical's senior writer Balazs Szabo delivers his latest analysis in his column branded as F1MATHS.
Paid back for misjudging a team order to give a place back previously?CRazyLemon wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 06:10Maybe one criticism, Charle's defense against Hamilton was unnecessary, was worth a good chunk of time. Might have made the difference if Norris had to use more tyre to catch him the first time on softs.
I welcome that defense against Lewis. It sets the tone of competition and Lewis thrives off that.CRazyLemon wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 06:10Maybe one criticism, Charle's defense against Hamilton was unnecessary, was worth a good chunk of time. Might have made the difference if Norris had to use more tyre to catch him the first time on softs.
Ham's issue was needing to increase it again and again during the second stint, even with around 6 laps to go he was told to increase lico by another 50 meters and coast into turns. On the laps where he wasn't he had similar times to Charles and Norris and despite a lot of it he still increased his gap to piastri throughout the racePlatinumZealot wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 14:05I welcome that defense against Lewis. It sets the tone of competition and Lewis thrives off that.CRazyLemon wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 06:10Maybe one criticism, Charle's defense against Hamilton was unnecessary, was worth a good chunk of time. Might have made the difference if Norris had to use more tyre to catch him the first time on softs.
I was disappointed in Lewis second stint he dropped off really hard. I know Charles had the better tyre strategy and it's only after the race did I learn of the Lico after lap 20 but I still feel Charles knows how to unlock those extra Newtons of grip from the Ferarri. Lewis will just have to keep focusing on learning those limits as we close out the season and if he bags a podium I think it can be seen as a success.
Leclerc didn't know he was boxing at the end of the lap, he thought they were fighting for position.CRazyLemon wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 06:10Maybe one criticism, Charle's defense against Hamilton was unnecessary, was worth a good chunk of time. Might have made the difference if Norris had to use more tyre to catch him the first time on softs.
It must be so nice to be Max Verstappen. No need to deal with all these intra team issues - who goes out first in qualifying / who gets priority to pit / who gets the best mechanics/engineers etc.ScuderiaLeo wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 15:27Leclerc didn't know he was boxing at the end of the lap, he thought they were fighting for position.CRazyLemon wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 06:10Maybe one criticism, Charle's defense against Hamilton was unnecessary, was worth a good chunk of time. Might have made the difference if Norris had to use more tyre to catch him the first time on softs.
Hamilton said he didn't think Leclerc would just let him by so no harm done. It would be different if Leclerc was already boxing but in this case there was no expectation from either side.
I'm glad Ferrari lets them race when appropriate rather than some "Scarlet Rules" BS
That's a pit wall screw up then, they should have used a code to let Charles no he was going to pit in X laps, or not to hinder Lewis etc. The only thing Charles defending did was cost them both time relative to Lando.ScuderiaLeo wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 15:27Leclerc didn't know he was boxing at the end of the lap, he thought they were fighting for position.
Hamilton said he didn't think Leclerc would just let him by so no harm done. It would be different if Leclerc was already boxing but in this case there was no expectation from either side.
Somehow 2023 was way less stressful
I think the current car is actually worse than the SF23, which is impressive in itself.ScuderiaLeo wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 00:10Leclerc has 6 podiums this season... matching the SF-23!
Though it feels like most of his podiums this season were done by the skin of his teeth rather than in comfortable drives
It's one of those years when Ferrari is not even the second or third fastest car. And nowadays everyone has rock solid reliability.
