[Saba Sports News] Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari has come to an end, but he has left behind an undesirable record: it is the first time in his F1 career that he did not stand on the podium in any race throughout the entire season. In response to external criticism and disappointment, Charles Leclerc stepped up to support his teammate, stating that the issues do not rest solely with the driver, but stem from the challenging SF-25 car.
When discussing the Ferrari, Leclerc was quite frank, explaining that the SF-25 was almost on the edge of being unruly during qualifying sessions. From Q1 to Q3, every lap required maximum effort, with virtually no margin for error. This not only tests the driver’s courage but also makes it exceptionally difficult to understand the car’s dynamics. In contrast, competitors who could take a more measured approach in the early stages of qualifying found it easier to gradually grasp the car’s characteristics.
Leclerc admitted that he also felt multiple times during qualifying that the car could lose control at any moment. In such a state, it is challenging to optimize the car’s performance through stable progression like drivers from McLaren or Red Bull. Therefore, he is not surprised that Hamilton encountered difficulties in adapting, especially in a car that demands operating on the edge of its limits.