Charles Leclerc just proved why ‘frustration is growing’ inside Ferrari at the Hungarian Grand Prix

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Charles Leclerc recorded Ferrari’s first pole position of the 2025 season at last week’s F1 Hungarian Grand Prix, yet a suspected chassis issue meant he could only finish P4.

The Scuderia were the last of Formula 1’s top four teams to earn a pole position this season, with McLaren boasting eight, Red Bull scoring four and Mercedes taking one. But Ferrari are still the only one of F1’s top four crews without a Grand Prix victory after the first 14 rounds.

Leclerc looked capable of finally ending Ferrari’s win drought that now sits at 18 Grands Prix in Budapest. The Monegasque sprang a surprise during much of the Hungarian GP as he led McLaren driver Oscar Piastri at the front, but his hopes evaporated after his second pit stop.

Ferrari boxed Leclerc for the final time on Lap 40 of 70, which dropped him behind eventual Hungarian Grand Prix winner Lando Norris as the McLaren racer tried a one-stopper. But he still led Piastri for P2 by 4.276 seconds, as the Australian waited until L46 for a tyre offset.

Charles Leclerc’s irate Hungarian GP radio messages showed the ‘tension’ at Ferrari

Leclerc quickly became irate as Piastri closed up and passed him on L51, and Mercedes rival George Russell even took P3 off the 27-year-old on L62. Russell was running 12.169s behind Leclerc once the pit cycle had played out on L46, yet he eventually finished 15.644s in front.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

The Ferrari star’s gap to the podium places also grew to 20.644s at the chequered flag after Leclerc drew a 5s penalty for driving erratically against Russell in Hungary. His rash defence into Turn 1 was likely a by-product of Leclerc’s growing anger during the race last weekend.

And Motorsport.com says that Leclerc’s anger towards Ferrari during the Hungarian GP even proved that ‘frustration is growing’ in the Scuderia’s garage. The atmosphere in Maranello is becoming ‘increasingly tense’ between Ferrari and their drivers, Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

Leclerc and Hamilton have regularly made it clear to Ferrari that they do not feel listened to by the team throughout the 2025 F1 season so far. So, when Leclerc realised his hopes for a podium in Hungary were falling apart due to changes Ferrari made, his emotions took over.

“This is incredibly frustrating,” Leclerc raged on Ferrari’s radio during Sunday’s Hungarian GP. “We’ve lost all competitiveness. Just listen to me, I would have found a different way to deal with these issues. Now, it’s simply undriveable. Undriveable!”

Ferrari potentially cost Charles Leclerc a podium finish in the Hungarian Grand Prix

Ferrari told Leclerc after the Hungarian GP that his pace had evaporated due to a potential problem with his chassis. But Motorsport.com reports that Ferrari increased the pressure of Leclerc’s tyres for his final stint, as well as lowering the outright top speed of his engine.

Leclerc was adamant over Ferrari’s radio that he would have ‘found a different way’ to deal with the issue(s) the Scuderia were trying to manage, which cost him 1.2s per lap to Piastri. Russell suspects Leclerc’s floor plank was near to being illegal with the lap time he lost, too.

Ferrari will now hope they can identify the real cause of Leclerc’s problems in Hungary over the summer break. But it will no doubt be another cause for concern that Leclerc’s anger in Budapest put the spotlight on the tension bubbling between the Scuderia and their drivers.