Hamilton and Leclerc Voice Frustration Over Ferrari Struggles After… Read more
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc expressed growing frustration after a disappointing Qualifying session for Ferrari at the Miami Grand Prix. Hamilton failed to make it into Q3, ending the session in 12th, while Leclerc only managed P8 despite reaching the final qualifying round.
Hamilton had earlier shown promise by climbing from seventh to third in the Sprint race, but couldn’t carry that momentum into Qualifying. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, the seven-time World Champion admitted the team is facing serious performance issues. “We’re struggling big time,” said Hamilton. “Just getting into Q3 is tough right now.” He noted ongoing problems with the car’s braking system and general instability, calling the SF-25 “a bit of a mess” in terms of balance.
Hamilton emphasized that despite their efforts to avoid major setup changes, the car remains inconsistent. He added that being stuck outside Q3 puts the team on the backfoot for race day, making it harder to secure meaningful points. Still, he remains determined to push forward: “Tomorrow’s going to be hard work, but we’ll try again… I’ll get back to the factory next week and keep going.”
Leclerc, meanwhile, endured a chaotic Saturday. He crashed in wet conditions en route to the grid for the Sprint and couldn’t start the race. Though he returned for Qualifying and outperformed Hamilton by reaching Q3, he could only manage eighth place. Speaking candidly, Leclerc said he refuses to accept the car’s current lack of competitiveness. “It’s just not good enough,” he stated. “It’s frustrating doing a good job and finishing P4 to P8. There’s no satisfaction in that.”
Leclerc said the situation is disheartening, especially when the effort doesn’t translate into results. “I’m just hoping we can turn things around as soon as possible,” he said. However, he admitted that recovery during the Miami weekend seems unlikely, especially given the track’s characteristics, which differ from circuits like Jeddah where Ferrari recently performed better.
When asked if the team’s improved race pace in past Grands Prix provided any hope, Leclerc responded cautiously. “A little bit, but not so much either,” he said. He acknowledged that while the team has shown strength on Sundays recently, the difficulties they’ve faced since FP1 in Miami suggest there won’t be any quick fixes.
As Ferrari continues to search for answers, both drivers seem resigned to the fact that improvement will take time, and that Sunday’s race in Miami will likely be another up hill battle.
