Charles Leclerc rants after Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying struggles
Charles Leclerc expressed his frustration following a difficult qualifying session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Ferrari faced a disheartening performance, reports BritPanorama.
After finishing ninth, Leclerc voiced his dissatisfaction during the slow-down lap, describing the race as “f*****g embarrassing” and questioning how Ferrari could be so far off the pace. “There’s like zero grip, zero f*****g grip,” he said, reflecting on the challenges faced during the rain-affected session.
The 28-year-old’s performance was hindered by multiple track limit violations, and he narrowly avoided elimination in Q1. Ultimately, he finished nearly a second behind Lando Norris, who secured pole position, further compounding Ferrari’s struggles.
Lewis Hamilton’s situation was even worse; the seven-time world champion found himself eliminated in Q1 for the first time in his career, finishing last in 20th position. Hamilton attempted a final lap but abandoned it after confirming his low placement.
The chaotic qualifying saw other drivers, including Oliver Bearman and Alex Albon, hit the barriers late in the session, but these incidents did not result in a red flag.
Hamilton later raised concerns over his lack of information during the session, asking, “Was I safe?” His engineer urged him to push, yet Hamilton had opted out of his final lap. Analysis revealed he may have driven over a cone, which could have impeded his performance.
Leclerc’s outburst revealed ongoing issues with Ferrari’s performance in wet conditions, a struggle he noted has persisted since he joined the team in 2019. “We’ve been struggling massively at finding the grip in those kind of conditions,” he explained. Despite past success in wet-weather racing, Leclerc was at a loss regarding the team’s difficulties.
He acknowledged the team’s efforts to adapt based on insights from Hamilton and former driver Carlos Sainz, but described the Ferrari car as “extremely difficult” and “very, very unpredictable” in wet weather.
Leclerc’s post-qualifying comments come amid a tough season for Ferrari, whose chairman John Elkann recently admonished the drivers to “talk less and focus on driving” following a double retirement in Brazil. Hamilton responded to these remarks by asserting his commitment to the team, stating, “Not really. I wake up thinking about it and I go to sleep thinking about it.” The seven-time champion emphasized his dedication, despite acknowledging the challenging season that has seen Ferrari fall to fourth in the constructors’ championship.
Ferrari’s ongoing issues highlight a stark contrast between their previous successes and present struggles, reminding fans of the unpredictable nature of motorsport. As the team grapples with these challenges, the road ahead feels both uncertain and compelling.
