AUSTIN – Scuderia Ferrari topped the timing charts throughout every observe session within the build-up to the USA Grand Prix, however within the all-critical qualifying session to set the grid for the race, the Prancing Horse confronted a critical drop-off that left each drivers scratching their heads.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will line up fourth and fifth, respectively, for Sunday’s race on the Circuit of The Americas.
Lewis Hamilton laments Ferrari qualifying struggles in Austin
Each Scuderia Ferrari drivers had been the protagonists in observe for the USA Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc dominated each of Friday’s periods, whereas Lewis Hamilton snuck into the lead in last observe come Saturday. Even qualifying regarded good… till that all-critical Q3 session that noticed each drivers battle.
The issue? It definitely didn’t come all the way down to any main adjustments.
Talking to Sky Sports activities after qualifying, Hamilton stated, “We did a extremely good job in a single day – the automobile felt actually good in FP3, aggressive. Then Q1 and Q2, each felt actually sturdy, felt like we had been proper there within the combat.
“Then the automobile was simply nearly as good because it was [and] we didn’t make any adjustments. It wasn’t that the automobile was flipped the wrong way up or something in Q3; it was a extremely good lap. However these guys simply someway took one other step.
“I don’t know what it’s. I imply, in the end, I feel we’re a couple of tenths off on the straight, as we often are.”
The one-kilometer straight between Turns 11 and 12 proved to be a recurring headache.
“Clearly, the facility deficit to the Purple Bull and to the Mercedes remains to be important,” Hamilton stated. “And I feel that our automobile clearly is nearly as good as theirs possibly via all of the corners, however we lose that down the straight.”
Fred Vasseur addresses Ferrari woes
Climate circumstances modified quickly all through qualifying, with the wind selecting up within the last section of the session. However Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur refused responsible the wind when it seems there are larger issues at hand.
“I feel the potential was there all around the weekend,” Vasseur informed Sky Sports activities. “We had a superb tempo in all of the free observe, and till the final nook, we had been combating for the pole, and nicely, it’s a part of the sport.”
The wind, although, wasn’t the issue.
“I feel Q2 was a bit sooner for everyone, and all of us struggled to enhance in Q3, maybe a little bit of wind or no matter, and it’s additionally a distraction for the drivers,” Vasseur stated, “But it surely’s the identical for everyone. We are able to’t complain concerning the wind; this could be bullsh*t.
“I feel we now have to do a greater job on the final lap as a result of we had the potential to be no less than on the primary row.”
Charles Leclerc will line up on the second row of the grid for Sunday’s US Grand Prix, whereas Lewis Hamilton will begin from row three.
READ MORE – F1 2026 US Grand Prix – Qualifying Outcomes
