Ferrari finds speed out of nowhere – Leclerc still wants answers

Ferrari pulled off a stronger-than-expected performance in Saturday’s qualifying for the United States Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton securing third and fifth on the grid respectively.

But while the result marked a welcome turnaround after a shaky start to the weekend, Leclerc was quick to temper the celebrations, admitting he was puzzled by the team’s unpredictable pace.

Coming off a frustrating Sprint Qualifying that saw Leclerc only manage tenth and Hamilton eighth, the Ferrari duo seemed out of contention early in the Austin weekend.

Yet when the crucial qualifying session arrived, both drivers were right back in the mix – a turnaround that even Leclerc couldn’t fully explain.

Leclerc: “Quite a Big Surprise”

“It was quite a big surprise, especially considering the weekend that has been very difficult for us since the beginning,” Leclerc admitted.

“We tried to put everything together in qualifying, we managed to do so, but I think there are still things that we need to understand from this car, because there is a bit too much of a swing in performance across the same weekend without fundamentally changing the car, so we will look into it.”

Ferrari’s inconsistent form this season has often seen the SF-25 shine over a single lap, only to falter in longer runs. But in Austin, the opposite trend appears to have surfaced.

Leclerc, who will start just behind Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the Circuit of the Americas, said the key to Sunday’s race would be mastering the opening moments and finding clear air early on.

“I think everything will be down to the start and having free air,” Leclerc said. “If we are behind other cars after Turn 1, it is going to be tough. If we are in front of everybody, it is going to be easier, so flat out into Turn 1 tomorrow.”

Hamilton: “It’s Taken Me Forever”

For Hamilton, Saturday’s fifth-place result in Q3 represented not only progress but also vindication. The seven-time World Champion has yet to claim a podium in his first season with Ferrari, but his performance in Austin left him feeling closer than ever.

“It’s the closest I’ve been in God knows how long,” he said. “It’s taken me forever it’s not for the lack of trying. But I’m going to give it absolutely everything to try and get there tomorrow.”

Hamilton credited Ferrari’s improved execution in qualifying to internal changes implemented after recent struggles, including lessons carried over from the Singapore weekend.

“We made some improvements in terms of our processes going into this qualifying session,” Hamilton explained. “We tried something different and it really, really worked, so I’m really proud of the team for being open and making the changes.”

• Read also: Ferrari’s Elkann issues statement – fully backs Vasseur

When pressed on what exactly had been improved, Hamilton offered a glimpse into Ferrari’s new approach.

“It’s just how we execute the session, it’s how we communicate, it’s the calm approach. An the timing that we go out. It’s the temperature of our tyres, all those sorts of things. We just executed it much better just altogether.”

For now, though, Ferrari can take encouragement from a qualifying session that showcased potential the team has been struggling to unlock.

Leclerc’s surprise and Hamilton’s satisfaction tell the same story – the SF-25 might still be unpredictable, but when it works, it’s fast enough to fight at the front.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook