FIA announce post-race Monaco Grand Prix inspection as L… read more
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari has been summoned in an official FIA document ahead of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, drawing attention from fans and media alike. However, this is not due to any infraction or investigation but rather a standard part of the FIA’s car presentation procedure. Hamilton’s SF-25 was selected at random, alongside Oscar Piastri’s McLaren and Carlos Sainz’s Williams, to be showcased in the lead-up to the event.
The car display procedure is a regular feature during Formula 1 weekends and is designed to give media representatives and personnel in the paddock a closer look at specific machines before the on-track action commences. It also provides an opportunity to examine any upgrades teams might have applied. For the Monaco Grand Prix, this process has taken on additional interest, particularly because Ferrari has been under close scrutiny following an underwhelming performance at the previous round in Imola.
According to the official statement released by the FIA, weather conditions could affect the execution of the display. The announcement stated: “In the case of adverse weather conditions, five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the car display all teams will be notified that the procedure may be conducted in the competitors’ designated garage area. At any competition where it is raining during this presentation, we would ask you to leave the cars in position and use awnings.” Rain has been forecast for both Friday and Saturday in Monaco, potentially impacting the planned outdoor presentations and practice sessions.
As is customary during race weekends, one car from each team is presented outside the garage area. If upgrades have been applied to only one of the two cars, the upgraded vehicle must be the one displayed. Ferrari brought updates to Imola, the first race in the European triple-header, but neither Hamilton nor his teammate Charles Leclerc was able to capitalize on them. Hamilton secured a fourth-place finish at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, while Leclerc, racing on home soil this weekend, is also struggling to find the performance needed to contend for a win.
Despite the summoning of Hamilton’s car, no wrongdoing is implied. The procedure is purely technical and overseen by an FIA representative. Both Hamilton and Ferrari, along with Piastri, Sainz, and their respective teams, are not under any kind of investigation. The selection is part of an ongoing initiative by the FIA to increase transparency and accessibility in the sport by allowing closer inspections of the cars during race weekends.
The challenges for Ferrari continue to mount. Their 2025 car, the SF-25, has not demonstrated strong performance in low-speed corners—a significant disadvantage on the Monte Carlo circuit, which is known exclusively for its tight and twisty low-speed layout. This characteristic makes overtaking extremely difficult and places a premium on qualifying position. If Ferrari cannot find additional pace in time for Saturday’s qualifying session, their hopes for a successful Sunday could be severely compromised.
To address growing criticism that the Monaco Grand Prix has become dull and processional, the FIA has introduced a new rule this year: a mandatory two-stop strategy for all 20 drivers. This rule change is aimed at spicing up the race by forcing teams into more dynamic strategies and potentially creating more opportunities for overtaking and surprise outcomes. However, the new regulation has sparked concern among drivers and teams, with some worried about the potential for strategic manipulation or “gamesmanship” during the race.
This added complexity could either serve as a lifeline or a further complication for Ferrari. If they can execute their strategy perfectly and capitalize on others’ mistakes, a “two-stop miracle” might be their only path back to relevance at this year’s Monaco GP. For Hamilton, who joined Ferrari in hopes of rejuvenating his career and chasing an elusive eighth world title, this weekend represents another test in a season that has so far failed to deliver on high expectations.
As practice gets underway, all eyes will be on the weather, the upgraded machines, and how teams respond to the new strategic rules. Ferrari and Hamilton have the pedigree, but whether they have the pace and execution to deliver in Monte Carlo remains to be seen. With a challenging track layout and new regulations in play, the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix may yet offer the excitement and unpredictability fans have long been hoping for.
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