Former GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi expressed strong disapproval of Charles Leclerc’s complaints over team radio during the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, criticizing the Ferrari driver for his reactions during the event. Leclerc was notably upset with Isack Hadjar after encountering dirty air while on a flying lap in qualifying, prompting Valsecchi to suggest the driver should focus more on racing than airing grievances.
Leclerc’s weekend in Canada was far from ideal. In the first practice session, he collided with the wall due to lack of grip, which caused significant damage and forced him to miss the second session. Despite this, he pushed hard during qualifying, aiming for pole position.
During Q3, Leclerc posted a purple sector time but was held up by Hadjar ahead, jeopardized by the turbulent air. This interference caused him to abort his lap and ultimately start eighth, leading to visible frustration communicated via team radio with some explicit remarks.
Valsecchi on Leclerc’s Performance and Attitude
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Valsecchi found Leclerc’s behavior unprofessional, emphasizing that the driver’s focus should remain on his driving instead of complaining. He highlighted Leclerc’s talent and suggested that the Ferrari driver should accept responsibility for errors rather than blaming circumstances or other drivers.
“I cannot understand why the team takes this situation; I cannot understand why someone is not saying, ‘Shut up and drive. Please, you are one of the best in the world; just drive!'”
—Davide Valsecchi, Former GP2 Champion
Valsecchi pointed out Leclerc’s mistakes throughout the weekend, which hindered his chances of challenging for top positions, and recommended that apologizing for these errors would be more appropriate than venting frustration on team radio.
“Leclerc this weekend was flying, right? He had seven or eight laps in FP1. He was at the top of the board. Then he crashed, missed the second session, and it was his fault. Then he got in FP3, he was second, and then he got to quali; he made the mistake in his last try, and he complained about Hadjar, who was far away in front. I mean, why do you keep complaining on a weekend when you can score a victory or you can stay on the podium? Your weekend is full of mistakes; it’s not the right time to complain,”
—Davide Valsecchi, Former GP2 Champion
Leclerc Reflects on His Performance and Strategy Issues in Canada
Despite recovering to finish fifth in the rain-affected race, ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc admitted that his overall performance was below expectations. He acknowledged mistakes and expressed regret over not having put together a complete weekend, especially regarding tire strategy.
“I don’t really want to speak with ifs. At the end of the day, I didn’t put everything together. I didn’t do the job.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Leclerc had favored a one-stop strategy, confident he could manage tire degradation effectively, but Ferrari’s team decision forced an earlier pit stop, converting the plan into a two-stop race. This disagreement led to tension visible on the team radio between Leclerc and his race engineer, Bryan Bozzi.
Looking Ahead: Ferrari’s Plans and Upcoming Austrian GP
Following the disappointing Canadian GP, Charles Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton are preparing to take on the Austrian Grand Prix with hopes of improved results. Ferrari is reportedly planning some car upgrades aimed at boosting their competitiveness for the next race, as the team seeks to regain momentum this season.