Ferrari Left Stunned as Antonelli Steals the Spotlight at Monza
Ferrari endured a nightmare Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with Charles Leclerc failing to finish and Lewis Hamilton recovering only to sixth place. The Scuderia collected just eight points, marking one of its poorest returns at its home race in the modern scoring era. The result was made even more painful by the fact that Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli produced a remarkable comeback victory after starting as far back as 19th on the grid.
Antonelli’s stunning performance has reportedly made an uncomfortable impression inside Ferrari’s senior leadership. With many of the company’s top figures, including chair
man John Elkann, present at Monza, sources within the paddock claim the contrast between Ferrari’s struggles and Antonelli’s
extraordinary victory has not been received positively. The young Italian has rapidly become a national sporting hero, and the passionate Monza crowd even celebrated him with a rendition of Volare beneath the podium.
The situation was particularly damaging for Ferrari because the team’s problems went beyond Leclerc’s crash. Hamilton and Leclerc also became involved in a first-corner battle, with Hamilton ending up in the gravel and losing several positions. Despite recovering later in the race, Ferrari’s overall pace remained disappointing, leaving Hamilton behind both Mercedes cars, both McLarens and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. This came on the very weekend Ferrari introduced its highly anticipated ADUO 2 upgrade, adding further frustration to an already difficult weekend.
Following the race, Hamilton appeared to send a strong message about the need for greater leadership within Ferrari. The seven-time world champion argued that responsibility ultimately comes from the top and called for clearer rules governing how teammates are expected to race each other. His comments could increase pressure on team principal Fred Vasseur, despite Vasseur currently being contracted through the end of 2027. Ferrari’s latest collapse has therefore raised fresh questions about whether the current leadership structure can deliver the turnaround the team desperately needs.
Adding another layer to the speculation is Christian Horner’s continued availability. According to the report, Elkann previously made a personal approach to Horner several years ago while he was still leading Red Bull, although Horner rejected the opportunity at the time. There is no immediate indication that Ferrari is preparing to make a change, but Horner’s presence on the market gives Elkann and other F1 decision-makers a potentially attractive option. Meanwhile, Antonelli’s extraordinary Monza victory has made Ferrari’s struggles look even more glaring, putting the pressure firmly back on the Italian giants.
