Leclerc Stunned as Ferrari Suffers Historic Q2 Exit at Imola

In a shocking turn of events at the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Ferrari endured their worst qualifying performance ever at Imola, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton eliminated in Q2, leaving the Tifosi in disbelief. Leclerc, visibly dejected, admitted he was left with “no words” to describe Ferrari’s dismal showing, as the team failed to crack the top 10 at their home circuit for the first time since the track hosted Formula 1 in 1980. The Scuderia’s SF-25, plagued by a lack of outright pace, saw Leclerc qualify 11th and Hamilton 12th, marking a low point in Ferrari’s challenging 2025 campaign.

The qualifying session at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari was chaotic, disrupted by two red flags in Q1 due to crashes from Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto. As Q2 unfolded, Ferrari’s struggles became apparent. Despite running on the softest C6 tires, both drivers failed to extract the necessary grip, losing significant time in slower corners like Variante Alta and Villeneuve. A bold strategic move by Aston Martin, opting for medium tires, saw Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll leap into the top 10, pushing Ferrari out of contention. Leclerc’s frustration was palpable as he hurled his steering wheel in the garage and exclaimed “My God” three times over the team radio, a moment that quickly went viral on social media.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Leclerc minced no words about the SF-25’s shortcomings. “We are just nowhere at the moment,” he said, emphasizing that the car’s lack of performance was the core issue, not his driving. “There’s not enough potential in this car, and I keep repeating myself. We need to be better.” He apologized to the passionate Italian fans, many of whom began leaving the grandstands after Q2, unable to stomach the team’s failure. “When there’s so much passion around a team and we can’t even make it past Q2, it hurts,” Leclerc told Canal+. “It hurts a lot within the team, believe me. This level of performance is not acceptable.”

Hamilton, competing in his first home race as a Ferrari driver, shared Leclerc’s devastation. “I feel super gutted,” he told Motorsport Week. “The car was feeling okay, the brakes were working, but you just can’t go quicker.” The seven-time world champion noted that Ferrari had made positive steps during the weekend, but the results failed to reflect their efforts. “To be in Italy for my first race with Ferrari and not make Q3, it’s definitely bittersweet,” he added. Hamilton’s data revealed he lost time on his second Q2 run, unable to “switch on” the soft tires, a recurring issue for Ferrari this season.

Ferrari’s struggles were laid bare by their lap times, which were nearly half a second slower than their 2024 Imola performance. Team principal Fred Vasseur admitted to Sky that the team’s inability to improve with fresh tires cost them dearly. “It’s a copy and paste of Miami,” Vasseur said, referencing their lackluster showing at the previous round. “Others improved by three or four tenths, and we didn’t.” While Ferrari’s race pace appeared stronger in practice, both drivers were pessimistic about their prospects on Sunday. “It’ll take a miracle,” Leclerc said bluntly, dismissing hopes of a dramatic recovery on a track notorious for limited overtaking opportunities.

The team’s woes come despite high expectations for a major upgrade package introduced at Imola, aimed at addressing the SF-25’s rear-end instability and lack of downforce. However, the upgrades fell short, with Leclerc suggesting that only a “freaking good upgrade” at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix could salvage their season. Ferrari’s early 2025 form has been dismal, with just one podium—Leclerc’s third in Jeddah—and a 152-point deficit to constructors’ leaders McLaren. The team’s hopes now hinge on stricter FIA front wing regulations in Spain, which Leclerc believes could level the playing field against rivals like McLaren and Mercedes.