Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, gave a candid response when asked why Ferrari chose to gamble by keeping Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc out on slick tyres during the late rain-hit stages of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix: “We just made the wrong call.”
Here’s how it unfolded—and why the decision backfired:
🟡 The Situation
With around 13 laps to go, rain began to fall over sections of the Albert Park circuit. Both Ferrari drivers were running mid-pack—Leclerc in P6 and Hamilton in P8—when the downpour started creating treacherous conditions.
While other teams (notably McLaren and Red Bull) moved swiftly to pit their drivers for intermediate tyres, Ferrari decided to stay out, betting that the rain might be brief or that the track wouldn’t get wet enough to warrant a switch.
🟥 The Gamble
By delaying their pit stops until lap 47, both Leclerc and Hamilton had managed to climb up to P2 and P3 due to others pitting. But it was a fragile advantage—built on staying out in worsening conditions.
Their hope? Either the rain would ease off, or a Safety Car would neutralize the field long enough for the track to dry, negating the need for intermediates. And yes, the Safety Car did come out after crashes from Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto—but the rain didn’t stop.
🔻 The Cost
The team ultimately had no choice but to pit both drivers for inters just before the restart. This dropped them from podium contention to P9 and P10, scoring just five points combined.
🗣️ Vasseur’s Explanation
“We were second and third behind Norris when the Safety Car came out. If we had stayed out and the rain had stopped, we could have won. But it didn’t. We made the wrong call and paid the price.”
It was, in classic Ferrari fashion, a case of high-risk, no reward.
🧠 Why Take the Risk?
- Ferrari had little to lose. They weren’t fighting for the win on pace.
- A bold strategy might’ve been their only shot at a podium.
- With Leclerc having already spun once and both drivers stuck behind slower cars earlier, the team was already on the back foot.
💬 The Takeaway
Hamilton’s Ferrari debut ended with a dose of the classic Ferrari strategy curse. It’s a reminder that while risk can bring reward in F1, timing and execution are everything—and in this case, Ferrari got it wrong on both fronts.
