Leclerc: Ferrari’s problem in Hungary could persist in Zandvoort

Leclerc: “It’s not the kind of problem we’re solving next race”

It is no secret that 2025 has been a challenging year for Ferrari.

Outside of the China Sprint Race, the SF-25 has lacked the pace to fight for wins and – by extension – the Championship.

Given how close Ferrari were to clinching the constructors title last year, their performance in 2025 has been hugely disappointing.

For Leclerc, taking Pole Position in Hungary presented a long-awaited chance to fight for the win.

At a circuit like the Hungaroring, much like this weekend’s Zandvoort circuit, a strong starting position is hugely beneficial.

Not for the first time, however, Leclerc saw a chance for victory slip through his fingers.

The consensus after the race was that Ferrari ran their floor too close to the ground.

Teams run their floors as low as possible to generate the most downforce – but going too far generates plank wear.

Excessive wear is not permitted by the regulations, which is why teams usually leave themselves some margin for error.

As Ferrari found out when they were disqualified in China, the consequences for getting this balance wrong can be disastrous.

Speaking to the media in Zandvoort, Leclerc admitted Ferrari’s plank wear could be a persistent issue:

“We more or less know which direction we need to attack the problem.

“But it’s not the kind of problem we’re going to solve from one race to the next, unfortunately.

“It’s more painful when you’re fighting for victory, as was the case in Budapest.

“It wasn’t the first time we’ve encountered this problem and it probably won’t be the last.

“But I think we understood what we could have improved.

“In the future, we will try to avoid this as much as possible.”

The fight for second intensifies

With McLaren long gone, Ferrari aim to finish second in this year’s Constructors Championship.

Their direct rivals, Red Bull and Mercedes, have experienced problems of their own throughout the season.

Red Bull’s success will partly depend on Yuki Tsunoda’s ability to maximise the temperamental RB21 – something he is hopeful to achieve after receiving the same floor as his teammate.

Mercedes have reverted back to their old rear suspension for the second half of the season.

In the context of their very underwhelming pace after the update, this backward step should help the Silver Arrows.

Kimi Antonelli was most affected by this failed update, so Mercedes will be eager for his form to recover.

As Hungary demonstrated, midfield teams can also create headaches for the top team – albeit mainly on Saturdays.

Regardless, Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton will hope they are not forced to lift and coast this weekend in Zandvoort.

Should they again resort to conserving their plank, it would jeopardise their aspirations in the team’s standings.