Ferrari ‘don’t have the answers’ to ‘mystery’ issue that could ruin Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s Monaco Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc won the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix from pole position, but his hopes and those of Lewis Hamilton in 2025 are at risk as Ferrari face a ‘mystery’ problem.

The 2025 F1 season rolls into the Principality this weekend for the second leg of the second triple-header of the term. Hamilton also heads to the Monaco GP on the back of scoring his best result as a Ferrari driver thus far at Imola with his P4 in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Leclerc fell to sixth place in the closing stages in the Scuderia’s backyard on Sunday after he did not pit during the late safety car period, unlike Hamilton who used his new tyres to hunt down Oscar Piastri. But the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship leader held on to P3 by only 1.4s.

It still marked the 40-year-old’s best result in red, though, even after Ferrari faced their main problem of qualifying at Imola. Hamilton achieved P4 in the Emilia Romagna GP from P12 on the grid, while Leclerc rose from P11 into P6 after both Ferrari drivers failed to get out of Q2.

Ferrari ‘don’t have the answers’ for why their 2025 F1 car is faster on used Pirelli tyres

Now, attentions turn to this weekend and Ferrari will use Leclerc’s 2024 Monaco GP-winning rear wing in the 2025 race to save costs developing a new high-downforce design. But Imola confirmed fears about an issue from the Miami Grand Prix that Ferrari are unable to explain.

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That is according to Auto Motor und Sport, which reports that engineers in Maranello ‘don’t have the answers’ for why Ferrari are faster with used tyres rather than new. It is a ‘mystery’ for those tasked with improving the SF-25 and limits Hamilton and Leclerc’s possible results.

Hamilton and Leclerc being unable to extract the maximum from their Pirelli tyres during a qualifying session is forcing the Ferrari duo into recovery drives, as seen at Imola. It may be particularly problematic in Monte Carlo, too, if either driver fails to claim a strong grid spot.

Charles Leclerc’s hopes for back-to-back Monaco GP wins are slim with Ferrari’s problems

Ferrari’s data on new tyres has been alarming the Scuderia after it became an evident issue in Miami, as Leclerc and Hamilton only qualified in P8 and P12 for the Grand Prix. But it will especially alarm them that Ferrari are still scratching their head to understand the problem.

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Leclerc won the 2024 Monaco GP from his third pole position at his home race. But the 27-year-old’s hopes of securing back-to-back victories in the Principality could be non-existent with Ferrari’s issues – even though the 2025 Monaco GP will have two mandatory pit stops.

Their lack of answers also only adds to the deflating mood in Maranello, as no one at Ferrari believes either 2025 F1 title is still possible. Leclerc and Hamilton head to Monte Carlo only fifth and sixth in the drivers’ standings with 85 and 94-point deficits to McLaren rival Piastri.