Ferrari’s elusive hunt for a Grand Prix pole position since August 2025 continued in the United States, as the Scuderia’s impressive practice form failed to translate into qualifying success. Entering Saturday’s session, Ferrari had topped all three practice runs in Austin, a significant feat that positioned them as the clear favorites, especially with the car featuring the team’s final major upgrade of the season. However, the transition from practice to qualifying proved stark, with the team finding themselves on the back foot immediately as the session progressed.
Key Match Highlights & Tactical Analysis
The disparity between the sessions was evident from the start of the decisive final phase. Charles Leclerc, who had briefly led the timesheets in Q2, found himself holding a provisional fourth place after the first runs of Q3, while new teammate Lewis Hamilton sat in sixth. This drop in performance came despite Leclerc finishing second fastest to McLaren’s Lando Norris in Q1, a spot he only secured after Norris took a second run. The inability to convert their practice dominance into front-row lockers highlighted a persistent strategic and setup challenge for the Italian marque.
Now, both drivers are pinning their hopes on the race distance, believing the longer stint offers a better opportunity to move forward against the field. The United States Grand Prix kicks off on Sunday, with live coverage available on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event at 8pm, preceded by build-up analysis from 6.30pm. As Ferrari looks to salvage points from a disappointing qualifying result, the focus shifts to whether their upgraded car can sustain performance over the full race distance to challenge the front-runners.
Source: Sky Sports
