Ferrari skilled a disappointing Dash qualifying session in São Paulo, with Charles Leclerc ending solely eighth, almost half a second behind the pole place. In response to the Monegasque driver, a small situation throughout his greatest lap price him round a tenth of a second, however the principle concern is that the SF-25 merely lacks velocity, regardless of feeling good to drive. It seems set to be one other uphill weekend for the Scuderia.
The sensations from this qualifying session introduced again recollections of Austin, the place Ferrari had additionally fallen in need of expectations within the Dash qualifying, ending greater than eight tenths from pole and fearing that even reopening parc fermé after the Dash race wouldn’t be sufficient to show the weekend round. In that case, nevertheless, a number of changes helped the workforce get better and finally attain the rostrum.
The Brazilian weekend appears to have began in an analogous manner, nearly like an disagreeable déjà vu. Charles Leclerc’s eighth place on the Dash grid, with a spot of almost 5 tenths from pole, confirms that it’s not simply concerning the end result itself, however somewhat concerning the underlying struggles surrounding it.
Talking after the Dash qualifying, Charles Leclerc defined that whereas efficiency was clearly missing — as he had already hinted over the workforce radio on the finish of SQ1 — the driving sensations weren’t unhealthy in any respect. In reality, he mentioned the automobile really felt good.
“I’m not comfortable. The automobile in the present day was very, very gradual. It didn’t really feel too unhealthy, however we’re gradual. So now we have some work to do and we have to discover enhancements for tomorrow,” Charles Leclerc mentioned after qualifying, emphasizing that the problem was not with the automobile’s steadiness however with its pure tempo.
His phrases echoed these he spoke after the Austin Dash qualifying — maybe with the hope that the result may very well be related, although the unpredictable climate might as soon as once more play an enormous function this weekend. A deeper take a look at the information reveals Ferrari struggled in every single place, which might be the worst potential signal.
When efficiency is lacking in each part of the lap, it often implies that the issue doesn’t lie in a single main space however somewhat in lots of small particulars. The drop in observe temperature between FP1 and qualifying, together with Ferrari’s determination to focus solely on the laborious tyre compound and never even try a run on the medium, might also have affected their efficiency. Regardless, there might be loads of work to do in a single day.
The Scuderia opted for a higher-downforce setup for qualifying, seemingly with an eye fixed on the rain forecast for Saturday. Nonetheless, the principle drawback stays that the automobile fails to make up within the gradual corners what it loses on the straights, regardless of carrying extra aerodynamic load.
“My lap in SQ3 was fairly good. Sadly, I had a difficulty with a refused downshift, which price us round a tenth and a half. It wouldn’t have made an enormous distinction, possibly I’d have completed seventh as a substitute, however it’s been a tricky weekend to this point,” the Ferrari driver added.
Wanting forward, Charles Leclerc hopes that the reopening of parc fermé may assist Ferrari get better some competitiveness, simply because it did in Austin, when a couple of technical and procedural changes gave the SF-25 a noticeable increase. Nonetheless, he isn’t solely assured that the identical turnaround can occur once more, particularly given the unsure climate situations that make it troublesome to plan the suitable setup course.
“There’s nothing that makes me suppose we’re out of place by way of setup. So I’ll attempt one thing, however I’m unsure if will probably be higher or worse,” Charles Leclerc added, stressing that for now he doesn’t imagine there’s a setup situation at play. The Monegasque is aware of that the weekend forward might be a difficult one.
Nov 8, 2025
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