Leclerc Admits Ferrari Still Lost on Wet-Weather Issues Post-Vegas

Charles Leclerc has candidly admitted that Ferrari remains baffled by their persistent struggles in wet-weather conditions, a problem highlighted again at the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix. Despite efforts, the Scuderia hasn't found a consistent solution, prompting a renewed focus on experimentation.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's inability to perform consistently in the wet is a critical handicap in Formula 1, where unpredictable conditions can often decide race outcomes. For a team aiming for championship contention, mastering all weather scenarios is non-negotiable. This ongoing issue undermines their potential and indicates a fundamental challenge in understanding car dynamics under specific conditions.

The details:

• Leclerc's Frustration: The Monegasque driver, who qualified P9 in rain-affected Las Vegas, openly expressed his team's long-standing struggle, stating, "It's been too many years that we've been struggling."
• Lack of Breakthrough: Despite occasional glimpses of improvement, Leclerc notes that any perceived solutions have quickly proven wrong, indicating a lack of true understanding or consistent fix.
• Experimental Approach: Moving forward, Ferrari plans to use future wet sessions to "try many different things" on track, hoping to stumble upon a breakthrough. This suggests a trial-and-error strategy due to the absence of a clear technical solution.
• Vegas Impact: The mixed dry and wet conditions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix underscored the problem, with qualifying being particularly challenging for Leclerc.
• Race Performance: Despite the qualifying struggles, Leclerc managed to finish sixth in the race. However, post-race disqualifications of McLaren drivers promoted him to fourth, an outcome not directly related to the wet-weather performance itself.

The big picture:

Ferrari's wet-weather woes are a recurring theme that has plagued the team for several seasons. This isn't just a minor setup tweak; it points to deeper aerodynamic or tire interaction issues that manifest acutely when grip levels are low. Resolving this would unlock significant performance potential and add a crucial layer of resilience to their title challenges.

What's next:

Ferrari will likely intensify its analysis and experimentation during any upcoming wet practice or qualifying sessions. Their approach will focus on gathering more data and trying diverse setups to isolate the root cause of their performance deficit in the rain. The expectation is that continued R&D will eventually yield insights, but until then, wet races will remain a significant hurdle for the Scuderia.