Leclerc Rages Over Ferrari's Wet Weather Woes in Las Vegas Qualifying
Charles Leclerc expressed intense frustration after a poor qualifying performance in wet conditions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, finishing ninth while teammate Lewis Hamilton was 20th. Leclerc slammed Ferrari's persistent lack of grip and pace in the rain, highlighting a long-standing issue the team has failed to resolve. This ongoing weakness threatens Ferrari's championship ambitions and puts immense pressure on future car development.
Charles Leclerc, often hailed as Max Verstappen's greatest potential rival, found himself in a familiar, frustrating position during a rain-soaked Las Vegas qualifying session. His ninth-place finish, coupled with teammate Lewis Hamilton's 20th, highlighted Ferrari's persistent struggles in wet conditions, leading to a furious outburst from Leclerc.
Why it matters:
Ferrari's inability to perform consistently in adverse conditions, particularly in the wet, continues to undermine their championship aspirations. Despite having a driver of Leclerc's caliber, the team's persistent issues prevent them from fully capitalizing on his talent. This ongoing weakness impacts their constructors' championship standing and raises questions about their competitiveness against rivals like Red Bull and Mercedes.
The details:
- Leclerc's Frustration: During the Las Vegas qualifying, Leclerc's Ferrari engine briefly cut out after a slide on the wet track, forcing him to perform a restart mid-session. Following his ninth-place finish, he vehemently expressed his frustration over team radio, stating, "This is damn embarrassing! I don't understand how we can be so far off the pace! There's zero grip, zero damn grip."
- Persistent Wet Weather Issues: Leclerc highlighted that Ferrari has struggled significantly in the wet since he joined the team, despite years of trying to find solutions. He lamented, "Our car has – since I've been at Ferrari – huge problems in the wet. We just can't find a solution." He added that the tires don't switch on, leading to a severe lack of grip.
- Hamilton's Struggles: Teammate Lewis Hamilton also had a disastrous qualifying, finishing last (20th) for the first time in his career. His struggles included overshooting a pylon and misinterpreting instructions from his race engineer, demonstrating the car's unforgiving nature in the wet. Former world champion Jenson Button explained Hamilton's confusion was likely due to misinterpreting track lines and flashing lights.
- Team Dynamics: Leclerc's candid remarks come after Ferrari President John Elkann had reportedly criticized his drivers for talking too much. However, Leclerc's frustration with the car's performance in the wet was too significant to hold back.
The big picture:
Leclerc's and Hamilton's struggles underscore a deeper systemic issue within Ferrari regarding car development and adaptation to challenging conditions. While Leclerc aims for victories and championships, the current car's limitations, particularly in the wet, force him to fight for third or second in the Constructors' standings. This situation creates significant pressure on the team to deliver a more versatile and competitive car for the future.
What's next:
Both drivers are clearly suffering under the current car's limitations, the team's structure, and external circumstances. Leclerc's parting words, "I won't miss this car for sure," suggest high hopes for the upcoming 2026 car. The expectation is that Ferrari will address these fundamental issues, aiming to create a car that performs consistently well in both dry and wet conditions, enabling them to return to the top of Formula 1 and compete for race wins and championships.