leclerc Investigates Ferrari‘s Unexpected Qualifying Dip in Austin
Austin, Texas – October 19, 2025 – charles Leclerc is seeking clarification following a surprising qualifying session for Ferrari at the Circuit of the Americas, where the team’s performance markedly declined compared to recent races. Leclerc qualified outside the top seven, a result he described as a ”big surprise,” prompting an immediate investigation into the factors behind the shift.
The unexpected downturn comes as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured pole position, while George Russell and Kimi Antonelli positioned themselves strongly within the top seven qualifiers. This qualifying outcome substantially impacts the ongoing battle for the teams’ Championship and raises questions about Ferrari’s ability to challenge for race victory on Sunday. The team’s performance swing is particularly puzzling given recent improvements and expectations for a competitive showing in Austin.
Leclerc acknowledged the team’s need to understand the discrepancy. “We need to look into what happened,” he stated. “It was a big surprise to see the performance difference compared to where we were.We’ll analyze everything overnight and try to find solutions for the race.” The outcome places added pressure on Ferrari to maximize race strategy and perhaps capitalize on any opportunities presented during the Grand Prix.
