Twelve months in the past, when Carlos Sainz received in Mexico Metropolis and Charles Leclerc led one-two per week earlier in Austin, it might not have been silly to assume that Ferrari might play a key position on this season’s title race.
Maybe you did not think about that position would first seem within the twentieth race of the season, the place you’d be the one influencing the battles of others, however that is precisely the place Ferrari will discover itself at this weekend’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Each automobiles completed within the prime three in qualifying, behind one of many title contenders and forward of the opposite two.
This was a efficiency that many anticipated earlier than arriving in Mexico Metropolis, however Ferrari’s general lack of race tempo thus far this season, in addition to the fluctuations in type of different groups, made it troublesome to actually imagine. Nonetheless, as apply progressed to qualifying, the Ferrari drivers maintained close to the highest occasions till simply earlier than the beginning of Q3.
Charles Leclerc had an eye catching first lap and took provisional pole place, with Lewis Hamilton additionally rounding out the highest three. It could have taken one thing fairly particular for Lando Norris to beat the pair, however Leclerc was disillusioned to solely be second on the grid.
“After ending the primary lap of Q3, which was a bit (disappointing), I believed it was a extremely good lap,” Leclerc admitted. “I knew I had a bit of extra to go, however not by a lot. Given the hole on the again, I believed, ‘Okay, let’s have a look at the way it goes. I’ll go as onerous as I can on the second lap and see the place I get.’
“I used to be clearly very stunned by Lando’s leap from the primary to the second run in Q3. I do not assume we had the tempo to match that in the present day. We had a bit of bit right here and there, however I do not assume it was sufficient for pole place anyway.”
Regardless of lacking the ultimate tempo heading into pole place, this was Ferrari’s finest general qualifying efficiency of the yr and continues to make regular progress in current races because the staff is ready to exploit much more of its potential, no matter which may be.
“I do not assume there is a silver bullet or one thing that is drastically totally different that may make us considerably higher now than we have been three, 4, 5 races in the past,” Leclerc mentioned. “I feel it is a bit of bit everywhere. I feel the method and all of the little variations find yourself making a giant distinction. And we have improved on all of these in the previous few weeks.”
“At one level within the season we needed to handle different issues, however now we’re in a bit extra of a cushty state of affairs, however the tempo itself is extra about little issues right here and there than something that stands out.”
Admittedly, Mexico Metropolis’s altitude might pose sure challenges in closing the hole within the area, however Hamilton mentioned Ferrari’s intra-team work was the most important consider delivering maybe the very best qualifying efficiency of the yr. Hector Vivas/Getty Pictures
Maybe probably the most notable distinction was Hamilton’s extra constant qualifying run, giving him his finest Grand Prix beginning place thus far this yr. Hamilton, who improved all through the weekend, was in a position to near inside 0.09 seconds of his teammate and was most encouraging with a late qualifying step that he had lacked for a lot of 2025.
“I feel it is a particular circuit, clearly with the altitude, so it is most likely nearer than regular,” Hamilton mentioned. “It is onerous to say the place we will probably be within the subsequent race. I do not know if we’ll be this shut, however we’re considering by way of the little enhancements we have made. They make a giant distinction. It feels nice to lastly get into Q3, put in a very good lap and be aggressive. That is been the problem all yr, particularly for me.”
It has been a steep studying curve for Hamilton in new environment, however the seven-time world champion believes a part of Ferrari’s current progress is all the way down to each his capability to adapt to his personal automobile, in addition to the work the staff has completed to enhance the way in which the staff operates.
“We proceed to enhance quite a lot of processes from the second we arrive, to debriefing, to decision-making inside engineering and on the go as a staff. So I feel we’re simply frequently strengthening a few of these areas.”
“I feel how Charles and I’ve labored collectively to maneuver the automobile and develop it has paid off very effectively all through the race weekend. Our automobiles are actually just about the identical and when it comes to traits, Charles has lastly found out the way to drive this automobile that he is been fortunate sufficient to drive for the previous seven years. It seems like we’re lastly getting there, in order that’s a very good factor.”
Norris mentioned in Q3 that the McLaren felt “proper,” however it’s no exaggeration to say that one thing clicked for Ferrari this weekend as effectively, sustaining their place as the principle challenger heading into Sunday’s race. Hamilton is aware of the stakes are larger for the motive force on pole place than the 2 crimson automobiles behind him.
“I positively need to have an in depth run tomorrow,” Hamilton mentioned of the beginning. “I haven’t got something to lose, however he (Norris) has one thing to lose, so I am certain… yeah, I’ll be fairly aggressive. Hopefully I will get shut sufficient to place up a very good struggle.”
If they will defeat Norris and Ferrari, they’ll be capable to reduce the injury brought about to Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Regardless of displaying sturdy tempo, he completed behind the pole sitter, with each Leclerc and Hamilton all of the sudden on Norris’ aspect, making a buffer towards his title rival. Both method, it should have a huge effect.
