Breaking: From Podium Hope to Pace Problems: Leclerc Disheartened by…..read more 

Charles Leclerc couldn’t hide his disappointment after a tough Sprint Qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix, where he secured only P6 on the grid. While Ferrari showed early promise during Friday’s practice session, the team struggled to deliver competitive pace when it truly mattered. Adding to the frustration, seven-time world champion and future Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton also fell short, qualifying just behind Leclerc in P7, and admitted there is considerable ground to cover in terms of performance.

Leclerc arrived in Miami on a relatively positive note. He had recently claimed his first podium finish of the 2025 season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and followed that up by setting the second-fastest time in Friday’s sole practice session at the Miami International Autodrome. Expectations were cautiously optimistic in the Ferrari garage as they looked to carry that momentum forward.

However, once Sprint Qualifying commenced, Ferrari’s pace simply vanished. While Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, along with rivals from Mercedes and McLaren, delivered strong performances, the Scuderia couldn’t keep up. The result left Leclerc visibly irritated and searching for answers.

“Bad. The lap was good, but the pace is just not at all there for now, so it is a bit annoying,” said the Monegasque when asked to reflect on his P6 result. His body language and tone conveyed a sense of frustration and concern, hinting at deeper issues beneath the surface. Leclerc’s comments suggest that Ferrari may be facing a bigger performance deficit than expected, especially in conditions similar to those seen in Miami.

This performance marks a step backward for Ferrari, particularly after showing signs of competitiveness in previous races. While their car has been reasonably quick over a single lap in recent rounds, the lack of consistency – especially during critical qualifying sessions – continues to be a recurring problem.

Adding to Ferrari’s concerns, Hamilton, who will join the team in 2026, found himself in a similar position with Mercedes. Despite showing flashes of speed in practice, Hamilton was unable to extract more from his car during Sprint Qualifying and ended the session in P7, directly behind Leclerc.

“There is definitely work to do to pick up speed,” Hamilton admitted, echoing the sentiment felt by both Ferrari and Mercedes camps. His remarks reinforce the reality that both legendary teams are still trailing Red Bull and McLaren in terms of outright pace and race-day performance.

Hamilton’s analysis suggests that Mercedes is still trying to find the right balance and unlock the potential of its current car. This is particularly frustrating for the team, which had hoped to turn a corner this season after extensive development efforts and design changes over the winter.

The struggles faced by both Leclerc and Hamilton underline a broader theme in this year’s championship – the battle for supremacy behind Red Bull is fiercely contested, but inconsistency continues to plague several top-tier teams. With every session crucial in the Sprint weekend format, any misstep or lack of pace is severely punished.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur will no doubt be looking into what went wrong during Sprint Qualifying, especially given the high track temperatures and the unique grip characteristics of the Miami circuit. Tire management and setup choices are likely to be key areas of focus as the team prepares for the Sprint race and the main Grand Prix.

For fans, the qualifying shakeup adds another layer of intrigue to the Miami weekend. With Leclerc and Hamilton both starting from the third and fourth rows of the grid respectively, they will need aggressive yet calculated drives to make up ground and salvage strong finishes.

As the sun sets over Miami, both Ferrari and Mercedes are left with more questions than answers. Leclerc’s candid disappointment and Hamilton’s acknowledgment of the work ahead reveal just how tight and unpredictable the midfield battle remains. While Red Bull continues to set the standard, their closest challengers still have plenty to improve if they hope to turn promise into podiums.