Charles Leclerc criticizes Ferrari’s ongoing performance issues after Las Vegas GP qualifying disaster
Charles Leclerc described the Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying session as “extremely challenging” after he and Lewis Hamilton posted disappointing grid positions for Ferrari, starting ninth and 20th respectively. This setback has put a serious dent in the Scuderia’s hopes of securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Following Ferrari’s double retirement at the São Paulo Grand Prix, the team already trailed Mercedes by 36 points, making them clear outsiders. The Las Vegas qualifying struggles have only intensified fears of a poor championship finish, potentially marking their worst showing in the ground-effect era.
Lewis Hamilton became the first Ferrari driver since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2009 to qualify last for a Grand Prix without any penalties. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc managed to make it into Q3, but his lap was almost two seconds slower than Lando Norris, who claimed pole position. With victory looking out of reach, the focus for Ferrari may now be on damage limitation as the season heads toward the Abu Dhabi finale.
Leclerc highlights Ferrari’s persistent wet-weather weaknesses
Over team radio, Charles Leclerc openly admitted that Ferrari’s performance in the wet conditions was “embarrassing” and reported experiencing almost zero grip. This lack of traction severely limited his ability to push the SF-25 and compromised his overall qualifying pace.
The wet track posed challenges for several drivers, with Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda describing the conditions as feeling like “driving on ice.” For Charles Leclerc, however, this was a familiar frustration, continuing an issue that has plagued him since joining Ferrari in 2019. Despite multiple attempts to improve the stability of Ferrari’s car on intermediate and wet tyres, the problem persists.
Both former teammate Carlos Sainz and current teammate Lewis Hamilton have voiced similar complaints, confirming the team-wide challenge. The Monegasque noted that the Ferrari drivers repeatedly struggle to harness available grip in rainy conditions, making it extremely difficult to maintain control on track.
Charles Leclerc reflected that, even after extensive adjustments and setup changes, the team has yet to find a solution to the SF-25’s wet-weather limitations. Lewis Hamilton has reportedly emphasized that the car’s unpredictable behaviour makes racing in wet conditions “so frustrating,” echoing Charles Leclerc’s concerns. Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz, in particular, have highlighted the ongoing difficulty in using the car’s grip effectively, reinforcing the notion that Ferrari’s wet-weather performance remains a major weakness.
Carlos Sainz continues to outqualify Lewis Hamilton
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, who moved to Williams for the 2025 season, has shown impressive qualifying performances. Despite a slower car, the Spaniard has repeatedly outpaced Lewis Hamilton, including an outstanding third-place grid position in Las Vegas. Carlos Sainz praised the competitiveness of his Williams machine in varying conditions, underlining his adaptability and skill.
This marked the sixth occasion in 2025 where Carlos Sainz has qualified ahead of Lewis Hamilton, highlighting an ongoing intra-team dynamic and raising questions about Ferrari’s setup choices and driver performance. In previous seasons, Sainz consistently performed well in qualifying, outpacing Charles Leclerc nine times in 2024. Currently, Hamilton trails the intra-team head-to-head comparison 17-5, demonstrating a significant gap despite driving arguably the faster machinery.
Charles Leclerc’s reflections after Las Vegas reinforce concerns over Ferrari’s struggle to provide a car capable of competing for wins in all conditions. With only a few races left in the 2025 season, the Monegasque driver and Lewis Hamilton will be hoping that lessons learned in Las Vegas can translate into stronger performances in Abu Dhabi and beyond, as Ferrari looks to salvage its Constructors’ Championship ambitions.
For the Tifosi, the countdown to the Yas Marina chequered flag can’t come soon enough. The 2026 regulation reset offers a clean slate, but until then, Ferrari’s wet-weather curse – and the echoes of Carlos Sainz’s untapped potential – will linger as a bitter reminder of what might have been in this turbulent 2025 F1 season.
