AUSTIN – Scuderia Ferrari topped the timing charts during each practice session in the build-up to the United States Grand Prix, but in the all-critical qualifying session to set the grid for the race, the Prancing Horse faced a serious drop-off that left both drivers scratching their heads.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will line up fourth and fifth, respectively, for Sunday’s race at the Circuit of The Americas.
Lewis Hamilton laments Ferrari qualifying struggles in Austin
Both Scuderia Ferrari drivers were the protagonists in practice for the United States Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc dominated both of Friday’s sessions, while Lewis Hamilton snuck into the lead in final practice come Saturday. Even qualifying looked good… until that all-critical Q3 session that saw both drivers struggle.
The problem? It certainly didn’t come down to any major changes.
Speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying, Hamilton said, “We did a really good job overnight – the car felt really good in FP3, competitive. Then Q1 and Q2, both felt really strong, felt like we were right there in the fight.
“Then the car was just as good as it was [and] we didn’t make any changes. It wasn’t that the car was flipped upside down or anything in Q3; it was a really good lap. But those guys just somehow took another step.
“I don’t know what it is. I mean, ultimately, I think we’re a few tenths off on the straight, as we usually are.”
The one-kilometer straight between Turns 11 and 12 proved to be a recurring headache.
“Obviously, the power deficit to the Red Bull and to the Mercedes is still significant,” Hamilton said. “And I think that our car clearly is as good as theirs maybe through all the corners, but we lose that down the straight.”
Fred Vasseur addresses Ferrari woes
Weather conditions changed rapidly throughout qualifying, with the wind picking up in the final segment of the session. But Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur refused to blame the wind when it appears there are greater problems at hand.
“I think the potential was there all over the weekend,” Vasseur told Sky Sports. “We had a good pace in all the free practice, and until the last corner, we were fighting for the pole, and well, it’s part of the game.”
The wind, though, wasn’t the problem.
“I think Q2 was a bit faster for everybody, and we all struggled to improve in Q3, perhaps a bit of wind or whatever, and it’s also a distraction for the drivers,” Vasseur said, “But it’s the same for everybody. We can’t complain about the wind; this would be bullsh*t.
“I think we have to do a better job on the last lap because we had the potential to be at least on the first row.”
Charles Leclerc will line up on the second row of the grid for Sunday’s US Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton will start from row three.
READ MORE – F1 2026 US Grand Prix – Qualifying Results
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