Charles Leclerc blasts Ferrari for failing to fix recurring wet track issue. Charles Leclerc finished ninth in Las Vegas qualifying.

The Las Vegas qualifying session proved anything but simple, with rain hitting the American track just before the start and inevitably affecting the work of all teams. Charles Leclerc, driving his SF-25, could not go beyond ninth place, and the Monegasque explained the reasons behind his poor performance as well as his expectations for the race.

Looking at the broader picture, Charles Leclerc’s performance can be considered positive compared to Lewis Hamilton, who ended his qualifying session in last place. However, on wet conditions, the same issue continues to emerge—an issue Ferrari has struggled to resolve for years. Charles Leclerc addressed this in his post-qualifying interview with Sky Sport F1, explaining the situation in detail.

Leclerc, Ferrari and the rain

“We’ve had this problem for seven years now. I don’t have an explanation, but it’s starting to last a bit too long… Every time it rains, we already know what to expect. Lewis and Carlos, when they drove these cars, had the same comments. It seems we just can’t use the grip. It’s extremely difficult to drive, even to stay on track. Even without mistakes, I wouldn’t have been able to move up. Looking at the gap, it’s hard to understand. Something doesn’t work in the rain. We’re trying everything to find a solution. It’s frustrating because this has always been one of my strengths since I was very young. I really hope we find something. The race? We’ve increased the aerodynamic load a bit, so it will be tricky. I think it will be better for the tires, but it will be very difficult to overtake or defend. I remain optimistic. The performances were good all weekend in dry conditions.”

Due to the rain, Ferrari had to increase the aerodynamic load on the car. The team also tested Monza’s extreme wing during the last practice session, but it was inevitably not fitted for qualifying. As Charles Leclerc pointed out, this will make the car more vulnerable in the race and will complicate any potential comeback. Clearly, a podium finish appears unrealistic, although Las Vegas has always surprised in the past.

Looking ahead to next year, Ferrari will have the chance to start fresh with regulatory changes, hoping to finally return to competitiveness in wet conditions after years of struggle.