Leclerc Dismisses Hamilton's Engine Boost Theory at COTA
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both faced unexpected performance dips during qualifying at the United States Grand Prix. While Hamilton suspects rival teams amped up their engines, Leclerc points to Ferrari's mishandling of tire conditions.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton encountered a puzzling drop in performance during the qualifying sessions for the United States Grand Prix, leaving both drivers to speculate on the reasons behind it. Ferrari seemed poised for a strong showing at the Circuit of the Americas, with Leclerc leading the timesheets in the first two practice sessions and Hamilton topping the third. Yet, it was Kimi Antonelli who secured pole position, while Ferrari seemed to falter at the crucial Q3 stage, leaving their team scratching their heads.
Lewis Hamilton, over the team radio, expressed his suspicion that rival teams had turned up their engines in Q3 to gain an advantage, suggesting that his own car maintained its performance but others had simply taken a step forward. Charles Leclerc, however, had a different take on the situation. Speaking to Sky Sports, Leclerc attributed the performance dip to Ferrari's own handling of the tires rather than any changes by their competitors.
Leclerc remarked, "This time I think it’s slightly different in that I don’t think the others have changed anything from Q2 to Q3. Where we have lost is on ourselves and that is mostly the tyres." He further explained that a slight change in track temperature, due to increased cloud cover in Q3, made a significant difference, describing it as "night and day different." From the start of the out lap, Leclerc felt difficulties, which he believes hindered Ferrari's chances.
Despite these setbacks, Leclerc remains confident that Ferrari can still triumph in the race. Both he and Hamilton will start from P4 and P5, which, while not ideal, still places them within striking distance of a win. Leclerc noted that he has previously won from a similar position on this track, recalling, "The last time I think I started from fourth here I won, so I hope we can do the same tomorrow."
Leclerc highlighted the importance of a strong start and strategic positioning, especially given the wide entry into turn one at Austin, which offers various opportunities for overtaking. "Then if you are doing the right choices you can get a lot more than any other track," he added, expressing optimism for the race ahead.