Leclerc, Hamilton Excel in Qualifying for United States Grand Prix

AUSTIN, Texas – Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton posted remarkable qualifying performances at the United States Grand Prix, securing third and fifth positions respectively for Sunday’s race.

Leclerc expressed surprise at Ferrari‘s pace during qualifying, especially after struggles earlier in the weekend. Both drivers faced challenges in Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, finishing in P10 and P8, which left them feeling out of contention heading into the main qualifying session.

However, they rebounded strongly on Saturday, avoiding early race incidents involving McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who crashed during the Sprint. Leclerc’s performance saw him finish third on the grid, a position he found unexpected. “It was quite a big surprise, especially considering the weekend that has been very difficult for us since the beginning,” he said.

Leclerc noted that despite their success in qualifying, there are still several aspects of the car’s performance that need addressing. “We tried to put everything together in qualifying, we managed to do so, but I think there are still things that we need to understand from this car,” he said. “There is a bit too much of a swing in performance across the same weekend without fundamentally changing the car.”

With Ferrari often exhibiting stronger performance during the races than in qualifying, Leclerc emphasized the importance of a good start. “If we are behind other cars after Turn 1, it is going to be tough. If we are in front of everybody, it is going to be easier, so flat out into Turn 1 tomorrow,” he added.

Hamilton, a five-time winner at the Circuit of the Americas and a seven-time world champion, expressed optimism about his qualifying performance, which marked significant progress for him this season. “It’s the closest I’ve been in God knows how long,” Hamilton remarked. “I’m going to give it absolutely everything to try and get there tomorrow.”

Ferrari is currently engaged in a tight competition for positions in the championship, with various teams aiming for pole in what promises to be a challenging race on Sunday. Hamilton conveyed appreciation for the improvements made by the team following earlier struggles, citing effective changes to processes and communication during qualifying. “We made some improvements…it really worked, so I’m really proud of the team for being open and making the changes,” he explained.

As the race approaches, both drivers remain hopeful that their qualifying performance can translate into a strong showing on race day, reflecting Ferrari’s potential amid their unpredictable season.