Ferrari’s long-awaited homecoming on the Emilia Romagna Grand prix has shortly become a nightmare. Each Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton did not make it into Q3 throughout Saturday’s qualifying session at Imola, ending eleventh and twelfth, respectively.
Whereas the Scuderia stumbled in entrance of a sea of Tifosi, it was their former driver—Carlos Sainz—who stole the highlight with a blistering lap.
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Sainz, now racing for Williams after Ferrari changed him with Hamilton for 2025, certified a strong sixth. His efficiency left F1 journalist Peter Windsor questioning Ferrari’s judgement.
“That is maybe the most effective proof that Ferrari made a mistake,” Windsor in a YouTube evaluation, “Sainz clocked the quickest time. This sums up the whole lot that’s improper with Ferrari.”
Lewis Hamilton leaves the Ferrari storage earlier than Miami Grand Prix.Peter Casey-Imagn Photos
Windsor didn’t mince phrases when assessing staff boss Fred Vasseur’s decision-making.. “Vasseurs administration at Ferrari ought to now actually come underneath a magnifying glass,” Windsor mentioned. “It’s one factor that the staff chooses a giant model like Lewis Hamilton, nevertheless it’s fairly one other that the staff boss permits this.”
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Ferrari’s points prolonged past driver decisions. In response to Windsor, the staff did not unlock tempo from Friday to Saturday—whereas rivals Pink Bull and Aston Martin gained almost a full second. “Ferrari discovered solely a tenth or two. That’s ridiculous,” he mentioned. “This has to do with the alternatives the staff makes on the circuit.”
In the meantime, Aston Martin’s aggressive tire technique paid off, touchdown each Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso in Q3. Windsor credit the affect of Adrian Newey, who lately joined the staff from Pink Bull, as a possible catalyst for his or her sudden enchancment.
With expectations sky-high and stress mounting, Ferrari’s disappointing qualifying at Imola has reignited debate over its strategic route—each on and off the observe.
