Hamilton and Leclerc Express Grave Concerns Over Ferrari's Performance in Qatar Sprint
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc voiced grave concerns after Ferrari's SF-25 became 'barely drivable' during the Qatar Sprint, leaving both drivers out of the points. Hamilton reported severe rear instability and bouncing, while Leclerc confirmed a complete shift in car feel overnight. The unexpected performance drop signals deep-seated issues that Ferrari must urgently address, threatening their season's trajectory.
Ferrari's struggles deepened significantly at the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc reporting that their SF-25 cars became 'barely drivable' overnight. Their poor performance saw both drivers finish outside the points, raising serious questions about the team's current form and future prospects in the season.
Why it matters:
- Ferrari's unexpected and dramatic drop in performance during the Qatar Sprint race has exposed fundamental issues with the SF-25, far beyond mere setup adjustments.
- This sudden decline, as reported by both Hamilton and Leclerc, signals a potential crisis point for the Scuderia, especially as they had reportedly shifted focus to their 2026 car earlier in the year.
- The team faces an immediate and challenging task to diagnose and rectify these problems, which could impact their standing in the Constructors' Championship and their drivers' morale.
The details:
- Hamilton's Struggles: Starting from the pitlane after significant setup changes based on simulator data, Hamilton finished a disappointing 17th.
- He described the car as being 'really in the wrong direction' and 'very, very difficult'.
- His primary complaint was a severe lack of rear stability, leading to constant sliding, snapping, and bouncing, particularly in corners like Turn 10.
- Hamilton also noted a 'lot of mid-corner understeer' making the car unpredictable and a constant 'fight'.
- Leclerc's Confirmation: Charles Leclerc, finishing 13th, corroborated Hamilton's observations, confirming the car had worsened dramatically since qualifying.
- He stated, 'The feeling has changed completely to yesterday and I don't really know from where it's coming from.'
- Leclerc found the car 'extremely difficult to drive' during the opening laps, losing multiple positions due to struggling to keep it on track and making numerous mistakes.
- Sudden Decline: Both drivers were baffled by the sudden and significant deterioration in the car's handling and balance from Friday to Saturday, suggesting a deeper underlying issue rather than simple setup fine-tuning.
What's next:
Ferrari faces an uphill battle to understand and address the severe performance issues before the Grand Prix, with qualifying for the main race now critically important. If these problems persist, the Qatar Grand Prix could prove to be one of their most challenging weekends of the season, further complicating their long-term strategic shift towards the 2026 regulations.