Ferrari grows stronger amid wind, tyres, and setup balance as McLaren pays double after Sprint crash
Max Verstappen’s championship momentum keeps growing after collecting 8 points in the Sprint and securing another pole position for Sunday’s United States Grand Prix in Austin. The Dutch driver’s Red Bull appeared unaffected by the shifting wind conditions—just like Ferrari, whose recovery was built on genuine progress. McLaren, on the other hand, suffered a double blow, losing both valuable points and crucial setup data after a disastrous Sprint.
Red Bull and McLaren: the gap widens
Once again, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris qualified on the front row, but this time the story was very different. In the Sprint Shootout, Verstappen needed a final push to snatch pole, while in Saturday’s main qualifying session, his superiority was absolute. Fastest in every segment, the Red Bull driver outpaced the McLaren by three tenths in Q3—so much that the early chequered flag caused by a team misjudgment made no difference to the result.
Red Bull continues its tradition of improving steadily over the weekend, using on-track data to fine-tune the car’s setup. Verstappen praised how well the RB21 handled Austin’s many bumps, a key strength he had already noticed in Friday qualifying when he switched to the less aggressive setup previously tested by Yuki Tsunoda. Still, the Dutchman admitted that during the Sprint the car felt unstable over the kerbs—feedback the engineers later translated into further setup adjustments.
McLaren, meanwhile, couldn’t benefit from the same data. Both cars retired within seconds of the Sprint start. “We were hoping to learn a lot this morning in the Sprint to decide the best setup for qualifying and the race,” Norris admitted afterwards. The crash at Turn 1 was caused by Oscar Piastri’s overly aggressive attempt to cut across the inside line, underestimating the space available—an unforced error that came under increasing pressure from the chasing pack. The cost of that incident was double: McLaren lost points and valuable preparation time for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
McLaren struggles with the wind
Another key factor widening the gap between Norris and Verstappen was the wind. Its direction and intensity changed during qualifying, symbolizing McLaren’s struggle to maintain consistency. Lap times were generally slower than on Friday—especially for the papaya team, which was around six tenths off its previous pace. The situation resembled Hungary, where McLaren also suffered the most from sudden wind shifts during Q3.
That explains why Norris admitted feeling less comfortable with the MCL39 on Saturday compared to Friday. Even so, his performance was stronger than Oscar Piastri’s, who openly recognized his lack of pace throughout the weekend. Starting sixth, the Australian’s struggles began in Q2, forcing him to use two sets of soft tyres and leaving only one fresh set for Q3. For the young driver, Sunday’s race looks like an uphill battle—though a podium finish is still possible, depending on how he manages to fight through the Ferraris and the Mercedes ahead.
Ferrari’s big step forward
Ferrari’s second qualifying session of the weekend was a clear improvement, with Charles Leclerc leading the charge ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who complained about excessive understeer in his SF-25. The Maranello team took advantage of the reopening of parc fermé to introduce small setup adjustments—nothing radical, but enough to make a difference.
Leclerc revealed that he experimented with something that proved particularly effective for his driving style, echoing comments he made after the Sprint. The Monegasque driver hinted that he had tested different steering wheel settings, possibly involving the differential, engine braking, and brake balance, to optimize the car’s behaviour through the corners. He also admitted that he had recently struggled to adapt to the updated car with its new rear suspension, suggesting the changes had initially taken the setup away from his comfort zone.
Leclerc also added that there are still aspects of the SF-25 that the team needs to fully understand, as the car’s performance swings remain too large to be explained by small adjustments. Both Frédéric Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton believe these fluctuations are linked to tyre preparation and execution. In Q3, Ferrari chose to send its drivers out first to ensure proper warm-up during the out-lap. According to Charles Leclerc, the team may also have benefited from the wind direction, which affected Ferrari less than its rivals—just as it did in Hungary earlier this season.
Regardless of the exact reason, Ferrari’s progress is evident. Once the setup window is found, the SF-25 proves capable of fighting directly behind Red Bull, confirming the potential of Maranello’s latest upgrades.
A race full of unknowns
All eyes now turn to Sunday’s race, expected to feature high tyre degradation and uncertain strategies. It remains to be seen whether a one-stop or two-stop approach will prove optimal. After George Russell’s strong start in the Sprint, Max Verstappen eventually demonstrated a slightly better pace than Mercedes, though not overwhelmingly so. The Dutchman will also benefit from having gathered valuable data on medium tyre wear—something McLaren couldn’t do due to its early double retirement.
With Piastri starting sixth, Max Verstappen won’t have to cover two McLarens off the line, unless new surprises emerge from behind. One thing is clear: Austin promises another intense battle between Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, with strategy, wind, and tyre management all likely to play decisive roles.
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