The Formula 1 world has been rocked by a stunning revelation just days after the chaotic Sprint qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix on March 23, 2025. A leaked report has surfaced, shedding light on a clandestine meeting between Ferrari and the FIA, raising eyebrows and igniting speculation about what really went down during the tumultuous qualifying that left fans and pundits alike scratching their heads.
The Sprint qualifying session in Shanghai was nothing short of a disaster for Ferrari. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggled to find pace, with Leclerc finishing a disappointing P7 and Sainz languishing in P9. The Scuderia’s performance was marred by a series of questionable strategic calls and apparent miscommunication, as the team failed to capitalize on a track where they were expected to challenge for pole. The chaos peaked when Leclerc narrowly avoided a collision with a slow-moving McLaren in Q2, prompting a heated radio outburst from the Monegasque driver: “What are they doing? This is ridiculous!” Meanwhile, Sainz spun out in Q3, costing him a shot at a competitive grid slot and leaving Ferrari reeling.
Rumors of a post-session confrontation with the FIA began circulating almost immediately, but it wasn’t until this leak—obtained from an anonymous source close to the paddock—that the full scope of Ferrari’s summons came to light. According to the report, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur requested an urgent meeting with FIA officials to address what he called “unacceptable inconsistencies” in the enforcement of track limits and the handling of traffic during the session. The leaked document alleges that Ferrari presented data showing multiple instances where rival drivers, including those from Red Bull and McLaren, crossed track limits without penalty, while Leclerc was reportedly warned for a similar infraction earlier in the weekend.
The summons, held behind closed doors late Saturday night, reportedly turned heated. Vasseur is said to have accused the FIA of “favoritism” and demanded clarity on why Ferrari’s drivers faced what he described as “disproportionate scrutiny.” The leak claims that FIA race director Niels Wittich defended the stewarding decisions, arguing that Ferrari’s complaints were “unfounded” and that their poor performance was a result of internal errors rather than external bias. However, the report hints at a bombshell concession: the FIA allegedly admitted to a “communication lapse” in managing traffic during Q2, which may have indirectly hampered Leclerc’s lap.
The fallout from this revelation has sent shockwaves through the F1 community. Fans have taken to social media to voice their outrage, with some accusing the FIA of undermining Ferrari’s season, while others mock the Italian team for what they see as excuse-making after a subpar showing. “Ferrari crying to the FIA won’t fix their strategy blunders,” one X user quipped, while another wrote, “If this leak is true, the FIA needs to answer for this mess—Ferrari deserves better.”
Adding fuel to the fire, rival teams have begun to weigh in. McLaren’s Zak Brown dismissed Ferrari’s grievances as “sour grapes,” pointing out that all teams faced the same conditions. Red Bull’s Christian Horner, meanwhile, took a more diplomatic stance but couldn’t resist a subtle jab: “We focus on our performance, not the rulebook. Maybe Ferrari should do the same.” The tension is palpable as the paddock braces for the main race, with Ferrari now under intense scrutiny to prove their pace on Sunday.
This leak not only exposes the inner workings of Ferrari’s frustrations but also raises broader questions about the FIA’s consistency in officiating—an issue that has plagued F1 for years. Was Ferrari unfairly targeted, or are they simply deflecting blame for their own shortcomings? As the Chinese Grand Prix weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on Maranello’s response—both on the track and in the political arena. One thing is certain: this bombshell has turned an already dramatic season into an all-out war, and the battle is far from over.
