AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

McLaren Stunned by Unexpected Ferrari Performance in F1 Australian GP Qualifying

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 15, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
McLaren Stunned by Unexpected Ferrari Performance in F1 Australian GP Qualifying

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 15, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton during practice REUTERS/Mark Peterson

McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have clinched the front row for the 2025 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, leaving them baffled by Ferrari’s subpar performance in the qualifying rounds. The Ferrari duo, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, merely managed seventh and eighth positions on Melbourne’s street circuit, contrary to their competitive display during practice sessions.

Leclerc, impressively topping the FP2 timing sheets, carried the same momentum into the qualifying rounds, securing an initial third spot, marginally behind Max Verstappen. However, the qualifying session ended with the Ferrari drivers on the fourth row, while their rivals dominated the top spots.

Ahead of the weekend, Norris had predicted Ferrari’s commendable speed, even pegging them as the dark horses for the Australian GP. But the unexpected turn of events during the qualifying session left the British driver questioning the reasons behind Ferrari’s underperformance. Speaking to Motorsport Week, Norris expressed, “I mean, I expected more. They’ve been just as quick as us all weekend, we came into qualifying expecting a fight with Ferrari.”

Norris further noted the close margins in 2025, emphasizing the critical role of a driver’s courage and commitment in the final lap. Even a tenth of a second can potentially alter three or four positions, he pointed out.

Following the disappointing qualifying rounds, Leclerc asserted that despite the setbacks, the car still retains a lot of potential. Norris, in response, highlighted how hasty judgments based on the timesheets can often be misleading about the car’s actual performance.

Echoing similar sentiments, McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella spoke to Sky Sports F1, refusing to accept Ferrari’s performance at face value. He believes the gap in Q3 is not a true representation of Ferrari’s capabilities.

Local favorite Oscar Piastri, too, expressed his surprise at Ferrari’s lackluster performance. He admitted that going into the qualifying, Ferrari was expected to be McLaren’s biggest challenge. He further cautioned that despite McLaren’s current superiority, the dynamics are likely to shift over the next few races.

Hence, despite the surprising results of the qualifying rounds, the drivers and team principals maintain an air of optimism and suspense, expecting Ferrari to bounce back stronger and more competitive throughout the year. This unpredictable nature of F1 racing keeps fans and competitors on their toes, as the true pace of the cars and drivers will only unravel over the course of the season.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Ty Gibbs Faces Heartbreaking Setback After Dominant Bristol Performance, Joe Gibbs Urges Patience
Motorsports

Ty Gibbs Faces Heartbreaking Setback After Dominant Bristol Performance, Joe Gibbs Urges Patience

Joe Puetz

by James Taylor
September 14, 2025
Carlos Sainz’s Bold Mission: Reviving Williams F1 as His Ultimate Life Project!
Motorsports

Carlos Sainz’s Bold Mission: Reviving Williams F1 as His Ultimate Life Project!

Carlos Sainz: The Man on a Mission to Revive Williams F1 as His Ultimate Life Project In a thrilling revelation...

by Miguel Cunha
September 14, 2025
Tony Stewart Survives Terrifying NHRA Crash: “One Hell of a Headache” but Uninjured!
Motorsports

Tony Stewart Survives Terrifying NHRA Crash: “One Hell of a Headache” but Uninjured!

Screenshot

by Carl Smith
September 14, 2025
Max Verstappen and Gabriel Bortoleto: A Thrilling Friendship Sparks Audi Teammate Dreams!
Motorsports

Max Verstappen and Gabriel Bortoleto: A Thrilling Friendship Sparks Audi Teammate Dreams!

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by Virgilio Machado
September 14, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News

Fábrica da Tesla em Berlim alvo de sabotagem

Tesla will increase production at the Berlin factory.

September 15, 2025
Expansão europeia da Xpeng chega ao mercado nacional com três modelos elétricos

XPeng starts automobile production in Europe.

September 15, 2025
BYD já vendeu um milhão de unidades do Dolphin Surf

“China with a new strategy for electric vehicles.”

September 15, 2025
Ty Gibbs Faces Heartbreaking Setback After Dominant Bristol Performance, Joe Gibbs Urges Patience

Ty Gibbs Faces Heartbreaking Setback After Dominant Bristol Performance, Joe Gibbs Urges Patience

September 14, 2025

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.