How Ferrari outperformed Mercedes at Circuit of the Americas | F1 USA GP insights. At the United States Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc delivers a stellar performance .

Ferrari tools and Leclerc’s outstanding race; Mercedes pays the Pirelli penalty

The United States Grand Prix at Austin was particularly fascinating from multiple perspectives. While the race ultimately rewarded Max Verstappen, who reduced the championship gap to just 40 points with another flawless weekend and now applies additional pressure on the two McLarens, Texas also marked a significant step forward for Ferrari. The Scuderia’s weekend demonstrated remarkable growth, as the team overcame a challenging start to the weekend and emerged as the third-strongest force on track, securing a podium finish and outperforming Oscar Piastri with both cars.

Ferrari’s sprint work pays off

This performance was made possible by the intensive testing carried out during the Sprint race, where both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton executed numerous experiments to extract the maximum potential from the SF-25. On a circuit where all teams were forced to raise the ride height and where mechanical setup became a decisive factor, Ferrari appeared to find the edge through extensive work on the brakes and, most importantly, differential settings—a detail often overlooked, but one that heavily influences car rotation, tire temperature management, and how the car adapts to the driver’s style. These points align with the feedback Charles Leclerc provided following the race.

Leclerc’s masterful race strategy

Charles Leclerc delivered an exceptionally strong performance, opting for the smart strategy of starting on soft tires. His first stint was impressive, as he successfully defended his position almost until the end, maintained competitive lap times while defending, and avoided putting undue stress on his soft tires—a nearly flawless execution. The only minor imperfection for Ferrari came from a pit stop call made one lap later than ideal, but it had no significant impact on the final result. Overall, Ferrari clearly outperformed Mercedes, aided by the Pirelli miscalculation on tire compounds for the American weekend.

Pirelli misstep affects Mercedes

The hard compound chosen by Mercedes skipped a step in the tire range and proved significantly slower than anticipated, leading the team to carefully avoid using it. This scenario emphasized that race pace was influenced not only by outright performance but also by tire temperature management—a field where the SF-25 holds a clear advantage over the W16. The result highlighted Ferrari’s progress and strategic acumen, showcasing how meticulous setup adjustments and tire strategy can decisively influence performance on a complex track like Austin.