Leclerc Frustrated by Ferrari's Persistent Wet Weather Struggles
Charles Leclerc is deeply frustrated by Ferrari's consistent and long-standing struggles in wet Formula 1 conditions, a problem highlighted by a disappointing qualifying session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Despite his strong qualifying reputation, Leclerc attributes the poor wet-weather performance to the car's inherent issues, particularly with tyre warm-up and grip. With new regulations looming in 2026, Ferrari faces immense pressure to overcome this critical weakness to challenge for championships.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc expressed deep frustration with his team's inability to perform in wet conditions, a long-standing issue highlighted by a disappointing qualifying session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Despite a promising start to the weekend in dry practice, the Scuderia once again faltered in the rain, leaving Leclerc questioning the team's capacity to resolve this critical weakness.
Why it matters:
Ferrari's struggles in wet conditions have been a recurring theme throughout Leclerc's tenure, consistently hindering their championship aspirations. In a sport where adaptability to varying conditions is paramount, this performance gap represents a significant barrier to challenging for top honors, especially as the sport looks towards new regulations in 2026 that could reset the competitive order.
The Details:
- Vegas Qualifying Disappointment: In the challenging, low-grip conditions of Las Vegas, Leclerc only managed ninth place, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton failed to set a proper lap time due to operational errors in Q1.
- Consistent Wet Weather Woes: Leclerc, who joined Ferrari in 2019, noted that the team has been "struggling and been poor on the wet" since he arrived, indicating a deep-rooted issue rather than isolated incidents.
- Driver's Frustration: Despite being widely regarded as one of F1's best qualifiers with 27 career poles, Leclerc's poor performance in the wet is attributed to the car's inherent issues, not his driving. He stated, "It's very, very frustrating, because it's been probably my biggest strength in the junior categories coming up, and we are just struggling like crazy whenever it's wet."
- Tyre Warm-up Issues: Leclerc highlighted that the car struggles to switch on the Pirelli wet tyres, resulting in significantly poor grip, a common complaint but one Ferrari seems unable to overcome.
- Operational Slip-ups: While Leclerc's poor pace was car-related, the team's operational side also faced criticism, with Hamilton's Q1 exit exacerbated by a mistimed run, preventing him from utilizing track evolution.
The big picture:
The 2026 season brings a complete overhaul of F1 regulations, with lighter, smaller cars and a near 50:50 split between electrical power and the internal combustion engine. This represents a fresh slate for all teams, potentially reshuffling the pecking order. For Ferrari, it's an opportunity to rectify fundamental weaknesses like their wet-weather performance, which has consistently undermined their potential. Leclerc's current car, the SF-25, is on track for Ferrari's first winless year since 2021, and his blunt assessment — "surely it's not a car I will miss" — underscores the team's urgent need for a breakthrough.
What's next:
Ferrari must address these persistent wet-weather struggles if they hope to capitalize on the new 2026 regulations. The upcoming rule changes offer a chance to design a car from scratch that performs across all conditions. The team will be working intensely behind the scenes to understand and rectify the root causes of their lack of wet-weather pace, aiming to provide Leclerc and his future teammate with a truly competitive package capable of fighting for wins consistently, regardless of the weather.