Monza 2025 will go down in history as one of the most dramatic chapters in Ferrari’s long and storied Formula 1 history. The legendary Italian Grand Prix at the “Temple of Speed” became the stage for an unexpected and explosive situation that shook the Maranello-based team to its core.

Lewis Hamilton’s assertive voice over the radio, combined with his car’s telemetry data, stunned not only the Ferrari engineers but also the entire F1 world.

What seemed like just another practice session at first soon became the trigger for a seismic shift in the team’s strategy and perhaps the future direction of Ferrari’s entire season.

The question on everyone’s mind: what secret was hidden in the data that changed everything?

The Shocking Revelation at Monza

The Ferrari SF25, often criticized for its lack of stability, was suddenly showing signs of becoming a true challenger to Red Bull. During the early sessions of the Monza weekend, Hamilton’s telemetry data revealed a shocking breakthrough: the SF25, once known for its fragile rear-end, was now able to maintain exceptional stability. The car’s performance was nothing short of astonishing, especially coming off Lesmo 2, a section of the circuit where Ferrari had always struggled.

Hamilton, who had been pushing Ferrari to build a car with better balance and precision, could not believe his eyes when he saw the numbers flashing across his screen. The SF25, which previously struggled with rear tire overheating and poor downforce in low-speed corners, now performed with unprecedented stability.

The team’s engineers were particularly stunned by Hamilton’s data at the high-speed Lesmo 2. Hamilton’s lap showed that the rear tires had only a 5° difference in temperature, an extraordinary improvement from previous races where they would typically overheat and cause instability. Ferrari’s upgrades – which included a low-drag rear wing and adjustments to the suspension geometry – had finally made a significant difference. The car, it seemed, had suddenly become competitive, but there was more to this story than just fast lap times.

Internal Politics and Changing Alliances

Ferrari’s performance at Monza was remarkable, but the internal politics of the team were about to get even more dramatic. As the weekend unfolded, Hamilton’s input began to take a much more central role in Ferrari’s technical discussions. The seven-time World Champion’s insights into telemetry, his ability to break down complex car data, and his strategic thinking had begun to overshadow that of Ferrari’s long-time star, Charles Leclerc.

Behind closed doors, Leclerc acknowledged Hamilton’s superior performance, especially in sectors 2 and 3. Hamilton was consistently faster, his control and precision in these sections unmatched by Leclerc, whose confidence was visibly shaken. This admission, while never made public, spoke volumes about the growing tension within the Ferrari garage.

Hamilton’s performance, backed by solid data, began to take precedence in Ferrari’s strategy discussions. His voice started to dominate technical meetings, and more often than not, his feedback was accepted over Leclerc’s. As the team’s performance improved, Ferrari’s internal hierarchy began to shift. The balance of power, previously firmly in Leclerc’s hands, was being challenged by Hamilton’s experience, consistency, and unrelenting pursuit of perfection.

The Drama of Pole Position

The culmination of this shift came when Hamilton set an astonishing pole position time during qualifying. His lap, timed at 1:20.112, was not only the fastest lap of the weekend but also Ferrari’s fastest lap at Monza in the hybrid era. The roar from the Tifosi, the passionate Ferrari supporters who fill the stands at Monza, was deafening. In that moment, it felt as if Ferrari had a new hero – Hamilton, the outsider, had delivered a dream result.

However, the celebrations were short-lived. A five-place grid penalty, resulting from a controversial incident at Zandvoort, meant that Hamilton would start the race from sixth place. While he had been the fastest man on track, the regulations would not allow him to capitalize on it. Ironically, Leclerc, who had set a slower time, benefited from Hamilton’s penalty, moving up to the front row.

The stage was set for a dramatic race, not just on the track, but within the Ferrari garage. Hamilton, starting from sixth, would now have to fight his way through the field, while Leclerc, on the other hand, found himself in a prime position at the front.

A Tense Race with Strategy Decisions at Stake

The race itself reflected Ferrari’s internal turmoil. Leclerc, battling Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the front, was struggling to keep pace. Meanwhile, Hamilton, from further back, was moving up the order at an astonishing rate. Within two laps, he had surged to fourth place, proving that he was the faster driver on the day.

Ferrari’s dilemma became apparent as Hamilton continued to set faster lap times than Leclerc. Despite Leclerc being ahead on the track, Hamilton was consistently 0.3 seconds faster, a gap that, over the course of a race, could be crucial. Red Bull, recognizing the situation, acted first, calling Verstappen into the pits early in a bid to force Ferrari into an early pit stop.

Hamilton, ever the strategist, demanded that Ferrari cover Verstappen’s pit stop, arguing that he was the one who needed to be covered, not Leclerc. “Box me now. Don’t cover Max with Charles. Cover him with me,” he radioed, a clear sign of his determination and understanding of the race dynamics. But Ferrari chose a conservative strategy, opting to focus on Leclerc and his position rather than Hamilton’s faster pace.

The decision to prioritize Leclerc over Hamilton proved to be a mistake. Verstappen executed a perfect undercut and moved ahead of Leclerc, who found himself vulnerable to the Red Bull driver. Hamilton, meanwhile, was forced to wait for a later pit stop, losing valuable time in the process. Despite some spectacular overtaking moves that had the Tifosi on their feet, Hamilton’s race was compromised, and the gap to Verstappen widened.

By the end of the race, Verstappen took the victory, with Hamilton finishing second and Leclerc in fourth. Ferrari, once again, had demonstrated that they could compete with Red Bull, but their internal politics had cost them the win.

The Fallout: A 42-Point Deficit and What Lies Ahead

Ferrari’s result at Monza – second and fourth – looked decent on paper, but inside the garage, the mood was entirely different. Instead of celebration, there were hushed conversations and a sense of resignation. The team had once again been faced with a critical choice between their two star drivers and had chosen the wrong path. Hamilton’s experience and precision had shown that he was the faster and more consistent driver, but Ferrari had failed to back him when it mattered most.

As the dust settled, the consequences became clear. Verstappen now held a commanding 42-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship, while Ferrari found themselves embroiled in internal debates about their future direction. McLaren, too, was closing in on the Constructors’ Championship, with a mere 27-point gap that could easily be wiped out in the next few races.

The real question now is whether Ferrari will back Hamilton as their championship leader or continue to let internal politics cloud their decision-making. Will they fully commit to a championship-winning strategy, or will they remain mired in compromises that could cost them the title?

Monza may have been a turning point, but the real drama is just beginning. Ferrari’s season now hinges on their ability to put aside internal conflicts and focus on the one thing that truly matters: winning the World Championship. Will they rise to the challenge, or will they once again let their internal politics derail what could be a historic season? Only time will tell.