F1 Las Vegas: Ferrari Struggles, Leclerc Admits Setup Mistakes

In today’s qualifying session for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ferrari once again struggled heavily in wet setup conditions. The circuit remained completely damp throughout the session, causing significant problems for the team’s two drivers. Charles Leclerc finished in P9, while Lewis Hamilton ended up last, exiting in the first Q1 session. To make matters worse for the Englishman, a track marker struck by the SF25 got lodged under his car’s nose, ruining what could have been a perfect lap.

Leclerc did not hide Ferrari’s responsibilities

“We made mistakes with the car setup” – he admitted. “In wet conditions, we were never at our best.” He added that since joining the Italian team, both the engineers and the car itself have struggled to find a competitive setup.

Since 2019, with limited feel and handling, Ferrari’s performance in wet conditions has often been a struggle. A mystery that has never been fully solved despite multiple cars and updates over the past six years. “It’s really frustrating not to be able to find a proper setup,” Leclerc concluded.

The result is bitter for Ferrari’s expectations, especially with only three races remaining in the 2025 season, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi still to come. Wet-weather difficulties remain an unsolved issue for the team and could prove costly in tomorrow’s race against rivals more comfortable on a damp track.

F1 Las Vegas Qualy, Williams in P3, Piastri starts from P5

This Las Vegas weekend also offers Norris a chance to secure the 2025 title. How? Everything is explained in this article

Looking at the front of the grid, Lando Norris set the pace by taking pole position ahead of his main rival Max Verstappen, followed in P3 by Carlos Sainz in the resurgent Williams. Oscar Piastri lagged behind in P5, about a second off the leader and his teammate. The circuit, with its long straights and DRS zones (assuming a dry track tomorrow), could allow for several position changes. And let’s be honest: a wet Las Vegas race wouldn’t be unwelcome, with the chaos it could bring promising plenty of overtakes and surprises.