Ferrari’s Qualifying Pace Drops as Leclerc and Hamilton Miss Top Three in United States

Ferrari entered qualifying for the United States Grand Prix with strong momentum, but the session ended in disappointment as both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished outside the top three, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Fading Performance on Saturday

Heading into the qualifying rounds, Ferrari appeared to be the frontrunners to claim the top spot on the grid. However, as the session progressed, that early-weekend speed failed to materialize into front-row positions. Leclerc and Hamilton were unable to match the benchmark times set by their primary rivals, leaving the team well short of the front row.

Per reporting by Sky Sports, the Scuderia ended up trailing rivals including Red Bull and Kimi Antonelli on the final starting grid. The shift represented an unexpected downturn for a squad that had looked like the team to beat during earlier running.

A Prolonged Qualifying Slump

The result prolongs a notable qualifying drought for Ferrari. Sky Sports noted that the team has been waiting for a Grand Prix pole position since August 2025. Despite displaying flashes of speed over a single lap throughout various race weekends, converting that potential into qualifying results has remained an ongoing challenge.

In modern Formula 1, sudden swings in qualifying performance frequently trace back to narrow tire operating windows, changes in track temperature, or wind variations across the circuit. While Sky Sports highlighted the dramatic contrast between Ferrari’s earlier competitiveness and their final session pace, specific technical explanations or data breakdowns regarding setup decisions were not fully detailed in the initial dispatch.

Looking Ahead to the Grand Prix

With both drivers starting from behind the leading pack, Ferrari faces a demanding recovery drive on race day. The team will need to rely heavily on race pace, strategic tire calls, and clean execution during pit stops to contest the podium places.

For Hamilton and Leclerc, overcoming the deficit on track will be critical to keeping their championship ambitions alive and understanding why their competitive edge evaporated when it mattered most.

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p class=”vbgf-source-note”>Source: SkySports | News

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