Ferrari explain why strong Austin practice pace did not translate in qualifying
Ferrari appeared to set the pace in practice for the United States Grand Prix, but the team fell short in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc offered explanations for why the car could not reproduce that advantage when it mattered.
Ferrari went into qualifying in Austin with high expectations after leading the way across practice. Charles Leclerc topped both Friday sessions, while Lewis Hamilton was quickest in FP3 after Leclerc’s fastest lap was deleted, leaving Ferrari widely viewed as a contender for pole at the United States Grand Prix.
That promise did not carry through into qualifying. Multiple reports said Ferrari failed to make enough progress through Q3, with Leclerc losing around four tenths, and the team’s bid for pole ended in disappointment despite appearing to have one of the fastest cars at the circuit.
Afterward, Hamilton and Leclerc addressed the shortfall and offered their views on why Ferrari could not match its earlier pace. Reports also pointed to two familiar weaknesses as factors in the outcome, with qualifying exposing problems that had not been as visible in practice.
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