The iconic curves of Silverstone were awash with drama this weekend. Lando Norris on home soil won this chaotic British Grand PrixTM on Sunday in the end, safely navigating a rain-hit race punctuated by several safety cars and taking advantage of his teammate Oscar Piastri incurring a 10-second penalty when one of those safety cars pulled off the track so bad was the deluge of rain.
Norris actually only led for the last few laps at Silverstone, having remained largely out of contention for much of the race. By finishing first, Norris closed the gap to Piastri in the drivers’ world championship and is now only eight points behind his teammate.
It was Piastri who had set the pace almost all afternoon until his challenge was undone when he slammed on the brakes too forcefully as the safety car peeled off and picked up a 10-second penalty from the stewards.
Still, Piastri held on for second while Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg claimed his first ever F1TM podium in his 239th race, despite starting 19th on the grid.
But for fans in Monaco, the story wasn’t about the top steps of the podium, it was about the heartbreak of Charles Leclerc, who went from Free Practice 3 dominator to P14 finisher, in a weekend that promised so much but delivered pelting rain and bitter frustration.
FP3 Brilliance: A Glimpse of Vintage Leclerc
Charles Leclerc arrived at Silverstone looking sharp and confident. Throughout all three practice sessions, the Ferrari was on pace — and in FP3, he topped the time sheets, fending off challenges from Verstappen, Norris, and even teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Monegasque was in a rhythm, visibly comfortable with the car’s balance and extracting maximum performance on medium and soft compounds.
The Tifosi dared to dream. So did Charles. The car had felt great in FP3, he was finally extracting the potential. It felt like Ferrari were in the fight.
Q3 Collapse: Leclerc’s Qualifying Frustration Explodes
And yet, when qualifying arrived on Saturday, Leclerc’s momentum collapsed. Despite his FP3 dominance and a promising run in Q1 and Q2, he faltered in Q3, ultimately placing sixth — 0.229s off pole, and behind both his teammate Hamilton and polesitter Max Verstappen.
Crossing the line, an audibly furious Leclerc slammed his steering wheel and unleashed a raw, unfiltered radio tirade, full of expletives.
It was a rare moment of vulnerability from one of Formula 1’s most composed drivers, a visceral expression of frustration from a man who once made pole positions his calling card. With 26 career poles, Leclerc is no stranger to Saturday success. But now, 12 rounds into 2025, he has none.
Qualifying used to be his strength. But every time he reaches Q3 lately, something goes wrong.
Leclerc declined to go into technical detail but hinted that Ferrari’s qualifying issues are “very specific” to the car, not driver confidence.
Race Day: From Hope to Heartbreak
Starting P6 with rain on the radar, Leclerc had a chance to claw back ground. But the race was pure chaos, changing conditions, deluges of rain, safety cars, and strategy headaches. As others climbed, Leclerc slipped down the order, finishing a miserable 14th and well outside the points. A major slick tyre choice decision at the beginning of the race, a disaster in the rain, was only the beginning of his troubles. He also reportedly encountered persistent problems with the rear brake temperatures on his Ferrari SF-25, a complication that had further hindered his performance.
Hamilton, meanwhile, brought the sister Ferrari home in P4, his best result since joining the Scuderia, but even that couldn’t brighten the mood at Maranello.
“It’s not the result we wanted,” said team principal Frédéric Vasseur. “We showed strong pace on Friday and Saturday morning. We have to understand why that didn’t translate.”
What It Means for Monaco’s Star
Charles Leclerc remains fifth in the drivers’ standings, but his 2025 season has become a story of contradictions: strong race craft, challenges in qualifying, and a Ferrari team still searching for consistency, if still second in the Constructors Championship. The frustration at Silverstone wasn’t just about pace, it was about lost opportunity.
Looking Ahead
With Spa-Francorchamps up next, a circuit that Leclerc knows and loves, the Monegasque will be hoping for redemption. If Ferrari can unlock their one-lap potential and finally get a clean weekend, Leclerc might just rewrite his narrative in the Ardennes.
Monaco is watching and hoping. Go Charles!
