The Maranello team heads to the United States Grand Prix with low expectations compared to Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull. The SF-25 is not competitive due to design errors that have compromised Ferrari’s strengths. Could the car’s weaknesses be magnified in Austin? Charles Leclerc believes there is a key factor the team needs to address.
Ferrari has aimed to remove all tensions. Are Horner rumors close to the Scuderia? No. Management has confirmed full confidence in Fred Vasseur, at least for now. Will Charles Leclerc move to another team? The Monegasque driver has again made it clear that he loves only Ferrari and wants to bring it back to victory. He is fully aware that the 2025 season is a failure and understands that it is “unacceptable” for Ferrari not to have won in over a year. The SF-25 is a flawed car, but for Charles Leclerc, there is one key element missing compared to rivals.
Leclerc: “It’s an issue we need to consider”
“At the moment, there isn’t a specific type of corner where we consistently lose time; the gap is a bit everywhere. They simply have more grip, and that is the area we are focusing on to improve. Of course, our car has weaknesses that we always need to address more than others, but today we need more grip,” Charles Leclerc explained.
Looking at Austin, one factor will limit the car’s setup. The track’s surface bumps prevent lowering the car too much, as this would lead to excessive wear on the plank under the floor. This problem is a consequence of previous technical choices, which have compromised Ferrari’s chances in the championship. The SF-25 would need to run at ride heights that would make it illegal to perform optimally—a concept that might have worked before the FIA plank directive was introduced last year in Las Vegas. Charles Leclerc, however, does not believe Ferrari is still fighting against this issue.
“I don’t think it will be a bigger challenge for us than for others. Of course, it’s an issue we need to consider on this track, but I don’t believe any team will gain a greater advantage. We had some problems earlier in the year on certain circuits, but I don’t think we are facing the same difficulties now,” he added.
Looking ahead to 2026 Formula 1, Ferrari has been the only team to completely halt development, especially regarding front wing flexibility. Charles Leclerc believes this approach could pay off in the new regulatory cycle: “Some teams are pushing a bit more with updates. We have focused on the next season, a decision I do not regret, and I hope it will bring its rewards.”
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