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Charles Leclerc’s Complaint at Imola GP Sparks Strong Fan Reactions

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated May 16, 2025 3:46 PM ET

Charles Leclerc’s Friday at the Imola Grand Prix got off to a rough start — quite literally. During Free Practice 1, the Ferrari driver was heard over team radio saying,”Helmet lift is horrible,” as he struggled to keep control of his headgear at high speeds around the fast-flowing Italian circuit.

It wasn’t just a passing complaint. Cameras caught Leclerc visibly trying to hold his helmet down during the session, images that quickly went viral across social media.

For a team already under pressure at its home race, it was another unfortunate twist in Ferrari’s weekend narrative.

Fan reactions poured in, many of them highlighting the string of unpredictable challenges Leclerc has faced in recent seasons. “Things that only happen with Charles Leclerc — helmet flying,” one user joked.

Another added, “Ferrari doing Ferrari things,” referencing the team’s recent streak of on-track misfortunes. Others were more sympathetic, with one writing, “Yeah, that could be a problem,” in response to the footage.

While it’s not yet clear whether the issue was helmet design, cockpit airflow, or another setup fault, Leclerc and Ferrari will be hoping it’s resolved ahead of qualifying.

"Helmet lift is horrible"

Charles Leclerc is having some issues with the airflow in front of the cockpit #F1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/rHP1Ys64Hm
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 16, 2025

With this Lewis Hamilton’s first Imola appearance for Ferrari and expectations running high, the Scuderia can hardly afford any distractions — especially not ones as fundamental as helmet stability.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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