F1 | Leclerc points to strategy: this is how Ferrari lost the Las Vegas podium
Charles Leclerc missed out on a podium finish in Las Vegas by only one tenth of a second, and according to him, Ferrari’s strategy played a decisive role in the outcome. The Scuderia arrived in Nevada expecting a stronger weekend, yet the performance of the SF-25 fell short of the predictions. After both McLaren drivers were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc found himself just a tenth away from a top-three result, but the team’s strategic choices ultimately did not favour him.
The opening stint had been encouraging, with the Monegasque showing strong pace, but once again Ferrari’s direct competitors managed to position themselves ahead of both SF-25s. The Monegasque driver had originally crossed the finish line behind Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli. Oscar was later disqualified, while Kimi had a five-second penalty that should have allowed Charles Leclerc to move ahead in the final classification. However, the Italian rookie managed to extend the gap in the final two laps, holding on to his position by just one tenth. With both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris out, Kimi Antonelli claimed a podium that could very realistically have belonged to Charles Leclerc.
The strategic mistake in the Las Vegas Grand Prix
Speaking to Canal+, Charles Leclerc discussed the opportunity Ferrari failed to capitalise on in Las Vegas. “It’s frustrating because I think it was one of my best performances of the year in terms of overtakes and aggression,” he said. Despite a difficult start, the number 16 Ferrari recovered several positions in the early laps, but the race soon took a different turn.
“I struggle to understand this race. The first stint went very well. The second stint was also good, but we found ourselves in a situation where Oscar was within DRS of Kimi. For me it was impossible to pass. With the strategy, I have the impression that we took a small step backwards. We lost a few positions that cost us dearly in the second stint, and that made everything more complicated,” Charles Leclerc added at the end of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
As if that were not enough, Charles Leclerc was caught up in the first-lap contact involving Liam Lawson and Fernando Alonso. Charles later cleared the air with Fernando, who pointed out the Racing Bulls driver’s mistake in Turn 1. The incident forced the 28-year-old driver to take to the escape road, costing him both time and positions during the opening phase of the race.
A weekend that promised so much ultimately ended in disappointment for Ferrari and its lead driver, with strategy once again proving the difference between celebration on the Las Vegas podium and a painful “what could have been” fourth place.
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