Ferrari could play a strategic card before the start of the Las Vegas Grand Prix: will Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton start from the pit lane? The choice could prove to be a genuinely “smart” one, and here is why.
Qualifying brought absolutely no satisfaction for Ferrari in Las Vegas, with Charles Leclerc finishing only ninth and Hamilton all the way down in last place. Given such disappointing results, the Maranello team might even decide to start from the pit lane. Here is why this option could turn out to be an “intelligent” decision.
“Tomorrow’s race should be dry, so conditions will be different again. Today we had a rather high-downforce setup, and that may affect our top speed in the race.” This was Charles Leclerc’s assessment after qualifying, while Lewis Hamilton believes he can make progress only if the race is dry.
The two Ferrari drivers are running different rear-wing specifications: the Baku-style solution for Charles Leclerc and the lower-drag Monza configuration for Lewis Hamilton. As a result, the Monegasque driver is losing 5 km/h on the main straight, while the seven-time world champion can count on more aerodynamic efficiency. The best approach would be to tweak the SF-25 according to the expected conditions and then start from the pit lane.
A new engine for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with a tailored setup
Following the same approach Red Bull and Max Verstappen used in Brazil, starting from the pit lane could be the smartest option. First of all, it would allow both drivers to avoid the chaos and risks of midfield battles when the lights go out.
On top of that, they would both have a fresh engine available to push at maximum performance and reset their component allocation for the remaining races of the season. Finally, regardless of whether the track conditions are dry or wet, the drivers would be able to rely on a car better adapted to the circuit.
Of course, this remains purely hypothetical for the moment. The next few hours will be crucial, as the team will better understand the conditions likely to shape the penultimate round of the 2025 World Championship.
The car was simply undriveable in the final phase of qualifying. The issue has existed at Maranello for many years, heavily influenced by the suspension concept, vehicle dynamics, and how the tyres interact with the chassis. We will see whether Ferrari decides to take this bold approach or whether everything will remain as it is.
