Charles Leclerc has delivered a blunt assessment of Ferrari’s performance during Sprint Qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix, declaring the team has returned to “reality” after a promising FP1 session. Despite topping the timing sheets in practice, Ferrari failed to carry that momentum into qualifying, with Carlos Sainz and Leclerc managing only P4 and P5 respectively.
A Disheartening Reality Check
Ferrari’s Lusail International Circuit pace had sparked optimism during Friday’s FP1, where Leclerc led the session and Sainz was fourth. However, that optimism evaporated as McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, along with Mercedes’ George Russell, outpaced the Ferrari duo during the critical Sprint Qualifying session.
Leclerc:
“When you give it all and end up only P4 and P5, it’s not great, especially with how important this weekend is for us. FP1 gave us hope, but Sprint Qualifying brought us back to reality. It’s more in line with what we expected.”
Leclerc emphasized that while FP1’s pace was surprising, Ferrari knew the true challenge would come during the competitive sessions. The team now faces an uphill battle in their Constructors’ Championship fight with McLaren.
Sainz’s Struggles with Balance
Sainz, who qualified just ahead of his teammate, echoed Leclerc’s sentiments but stressed he was wary of reading too much into FP1 results. The Spaniard revealed that his car struggled with significant understeer during his Sprint Qualifying laps.
Sainz:
“The car felt better in FP1 than expected, but I knew we couldn’t rely on that. In Quali, I had a lot of understeer and couldn’t turn the car properly. My final lap was clean, but I had to play it safe after losing my previous attempt to track limits.”
Sainz’s cautious approach was necessary but frustrating, as Ferrari couldn’t fully exploit their package at a circuit where track limits and tire management are critical.
Ferrari’s Constructors’ Battle Intensifies
With just two race weekends remaining, Ferrari trails McLaren by 24 points in the Constructors’ Championship. Sprint points at Qatar could prove crucial, but Ferrari must find more pace to challenge McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who qualified P1 and P3 for the Sprint.
Ferrari’s mixed performance highlights their continued inconsistency, with Leclerc admitting:
“We are not in the best position, but race day is always different. Anything can happen.”
What’s Next for Ferrari?
As Sprint Race Day looms, Ferrari must address the balance issues that plagued their qualifying runs and capitalize on any opportunities during the main event. With McLaren firmly in form and Mercedes also lurking, the Scuderia will need a strategic and flawless weekend to keep their championship hopes alive.