Ferrari collects the next slap in the face in qualifying at the Grand Prix of Miami and only ends up eight and twelve in the starting places. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton then complain with clear words about the SF-25, which is simply not competitive.
With his surprising third place in Miami’s sprint race, Lewis Hamilton briefly stoked the hopes of the numerous Ferrari fans for a good qualifying of the red. But when it got tough (and was dry), the borders were shown to the SF-25. Charles Leclerc was missing more than half a second, and Hamilton was not even allowed to intervene in the fight for a good starting position after his Q2-out.
“It is frustrating,” said Monegasse in view of the disappointing qualifying yield. “To be honest, it is much more frustrating that I had the feeling that we have maximized the potential of the car this weekend. But it is simply the case that the potential is not there,” he complained about the material that obviously does not work.
Ferrari is “just not fast”
“In qualifying I was very satisfied with my round. And then she brings us whatever, eighth or something … we are just not quick. Whatever we do by car, we just don’t have the necessary downforce that others have at the moment,” said Leclerc alarm.
Hamilton also went hard to court with the SF-25. On the one hand, the Briton praised the brave strategy decision that flushed him in third place in the sprint. “But,” says the seven -time champion, “we lacked the pure pace. I was one of the first on the track this morning to make sure we take the right measures, but it made no difference. The car feels different when driving out,” Moserte Hamilton.
The status quo, admitted Hamilton, is nothing less than a slap in the face. “We are beaten by both Williams in qualifying, so do a good job. But as far as the pure pace is concerned … that’s where we stand. […] We need some upgrades, we need improvements. We need a lot of things that have to get better, “said the seven -time world champion, who has certainly imagined his first season at Scuderia differently.