Charles Leclerc aims to end Ferrari’s Grand Prix drought at United States GP
Charles Leclerc has a prime opportunity to deliver Ferrari’s first Grand Prix victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. After a challenging Sprint qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas, both Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton find themselves in promising positions to score valuable points for the Scuderia.
The Monegasque driver will start the race from third on the grid, with Lewis Hamilton lining up in fifth. This puts Ferrari in a strong strategic position, where any incidents or disruptions ahead could open the door for a podium finish. For Ferrari, who have endured a difficult 2025 campaign with no race victories so far, the United States Grand Prix offers a vital opportunity to extract positive momentum.
Charles Leclerc has not added to his tally of five podiums since the Belgian Grand Prix, while the seven-time Formula 1 world champion has yet to record a top-three finish in a Grand Prix outside of Sprint events. Nevertheless, the Briton gained confidence by outperforming the 28-year-old driver in Saturday’s shortened Sprint, signaling that both drivers are in a competitive frame of mind heading into Sunday’s main race.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has acknowledged that one of his decisions earlier this season—halting development on the 2025 car—had an unintended psychological impact on the team. However, with the Scuderia no longer in realistic contention for the Constructors’ Championship, the focus has shifted firmly to preparing for 2026 and the new F1 regulations. Ferrari has already allowed its drivers to test the 2026 car in the simulator, giving valuable feedback ahead of next season.
Leclerc labels Ferrari’s 2026 car as ‘very positive’ in simulator
During an interview at the United States Grand Prix with Sky Sports Germany, former F1 driver Timo Glock asked Charles Leclerc about his initial impressions of Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car in the simulator. Charles Leclerc confirmed that the new car felt very different from the current F1-75 model. When asked whether the changes were positive or negative, he indicated that the experience had been very positive, signaling optimism for Ferrari’s upcoming technical package.
Speculation continues regarding Ferrari’s 2026 power unit, with whispers suggesting that they may face stiff competition when official testing begins. Every team is now preparing for the engine and aerodynamic regulation changes, which are expected to shake up the grid and reduce the performance convergence seen in 2025. Ferrari’s engineers and key technical staff face the critical task of ensuring both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are competitive under these new regulations.
Leclerc reflects on United States GP Sprint qualifying
Charles Leclerc admitted that qualifying for the Sprint race had been a “big surprise” after struggling during the session. A mistake at turn five allowed Hamilton to overtake him, making it challenging for Leclerc to regain his previous pace. Nevertheless, he remained optimistic, emphasizing that the team had gathered valuable insights during the session that could be applied to Sunday’s main race.
He noted that the overall feeling in the car had improved compared to Friday’s sessions, and that Ferrari had managed to assemble a strong qualifying effort, ultimately securing a third-place starting position. Charles Leclerc highlighted that the team had learned from the Sprint and expected to use that information to gain a strong start and move forward during the race.
As the United States Grand Prix unfolds, the question remains whether Ferrari can match the race pace of leaders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, with Oscar Piastri closely following in the midfield. If Charles Leclerc and Hamilton can avoid incidents in the opening laps, the Scuderia has a genuine opportunity to reduce Mercedes’ advantage in the Constructors’ Championship and inject much-needed momentum into their 2025 season.
Looking ahead for Ferrari
With only six races remaining in the season, Ferrari’s focus is split between salvaging points in 2025 and preparing for a competitive 2026 campaign under new regulations. The United States Grand Prix represents not only a chance to score a strong result but also an opportunity to test strategies, refine setups, and gather insights that will be critical for next season’s championship challenge.
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