Charles Leclerc has warned that overtaking could prove particularly difficult during the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix after qualifying third for Ferrari, behind Mercedes driver George Russell and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton. The Monegasque driver believes overheating problems affecting the car and brakes, combined with the limited effectiveness of Overtake Mode at the Mexican circuit, could make it difficult for drivers to gain positions once the opening corner has been negotiated.
Charles Leclerc also expressed frustration with his own qualifying performance, admitting that he failed to make the difference during the decisive stages of Q3. Despite securing a place on the second row, the Ferrari driver struggled to bring his tyres into the correct operating window, while an unexpected change in the car’s behaviour prevented him from extracting the performance he had hoped for.
Charles Leclerc admits he failed to deliver in Mexico GP qualifying
After securing third place on the grid for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc reflected on the difficulties that affected his qualifying session. Although the result leaves him in a competitive starting position, the Ferrari driver was disappointed with his inability to deliver the lap he wanted when it mattered most.
Speaking to Sky Sport, Charles Leclerc explained that tyre preparation had been a recurring difficulty throughout the qualifying session, particularly during the earlier segments.
“I wasn’t able to make the difference at the decisive moment in Q3. I’m struggling to get the tyres into the right operating window: I had difficulties on the preparation laps in both Q1 and Q2. In Q3, however, I managed to complete the out-lap I had planned, but the behaviour of the car changed.”
The comments highlight the delicate balance required to prepare the tyres correctly for a flying lap. Even after completing his intended preparation procedure in Q3, Charles Leclerc found that the Ferrari responded differently, leaving him unable to produce the performance he had been targeting.
Qualifying lap times and differences between Q1, Q2 and Q3 can be explored through the F1 qualifying pace and sector comparison, which provides a detailed breakdown of drivers’ qualifying performances.
Ferrari overheating and Overtake Mode concern Charles Leclerc ahead of Mexico GP
Looking ahead to the Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc expressed concerns about the opportunities to overtake at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Although the opening stages could offer chances for drivers to change positions, the Monegasque does not expect overtaking to be straightforward once the field has passed Turn 1.
The Ferrari driver identified several factors that could complicate wheel-to-wheel battles, including overheating affecting the car and brakes. He also questioned how much assistance Overtake Mode would provide around the Mexican circuit.
“As for tomorrow’s race, after Turn 1 I don’t expect much overtaking. Overheating of the car and brakes, together with the ineffectiveness of Overtake Mode at this circuit, could make the battles particularly complicated. I would therefore be surprised to see much overtaking during the race.”
These concerns add another dimension to the cooling and grip challenges previously identified by Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix. The circuit’s unusual demands could make managing temperatures an important consideration during Sunday’s race.
Charles Leclerc starts third behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell
Charles Leclerc will line up third on the grid, with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton starting from pole position ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. The result puts both Scuderia drivers among the leading contenders at the start, although the Monegasque’s comments suggest that gaining further positions could become difficult once the opening phase is complete.
For Charles Leclerc, the immediate challenge will be to make the most of his starting position while dealing with the limitations he anticipates during the race. His concerns about overheating and the effectiveness of Overtake Mode leave open the question of how easily the drivers will be able to attack and defend throughout the Grand Prix.
With Lewis Hamilton on pole and Charles Leclerc third, Ferrari has secured a promising qualifying result in Mexico. However, the Monegasque believes that the combination of difficult overtaking conditions and temperature management could make the opening stages particularly important in determining how the race unfolds.
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