Ferrari Remains Poised for Victory at the United States Grand Prix

Despite falling short of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen in qualifying, Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari remains in contention for Formula 1 victory at the United States Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver took fourth on the grid, just 0.09 seconds away from team-mate Carlos Sainz, who clinched third for Sunday's race at Austin.

Unlocking Ferrari's Potential on Race Day

Overcoming Qualifying Limitations

Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari's SF-24 car faced a "limitation" in the opening sector of the circuit, which made it difficult to challenge the pace of Norris and Verstappen in qualifying. However, he expressed optimism that this issue would be less of a factor in the race, stating, "In the race, we have a lot less of that issue."The early end to Q3, caused by George Russell's crash at Turn 19, did not significantly impact Leclerc's position, as he felt that third place was the maximum achievable result. Leclerc explained that the team's focus was on optimizing the car's performance for the race, where he believes Ferrari can showcase its true potential.

Leveraging Sprint Race Pace

Leclerc pointed to Ferrari's strong sprint race pace as a source of optimism for the main event. In the sprint race, Sainz managed to overtake Norris on the final lap to claim second place, demonstrating the team's ability to challenge the frontrunners.Leclerc expressed confidence that if Ferrari can replicate its sprint race pace, a victory remains possible. He acknowledged that Norris and Verstappen were "too fast" to fight with in qualifying, but believes the team can close the gap in the race.

Tire Management Strategy

Leclerc revealed that Ferrari's tire degradation was "quite balanced," and he had learned from his sprint race battle with Sainz that he could push the tires harder without compromising performance.The Monegasque driver explained that drivers can influence the balance of tire degradation, with the option to prioritize either front or rear degradation. He stated that the team's strategy and the number of laps required in the first stint would determine the optimal approach to tire management.

Addressing Chassis Limitations

Leclerc identified the "bottoming and the actual bumps on the track" as the primary limitations of the Ferrari SF-24 in the opening sector, rather than the car's bouncing issues. He explained that these factors were causing the car to "touch quite a lot," making it "very tricky" to navigate that part of the circuit.Despite these challenges, Leclerc remains confident that Ferrari can overcome these limitations and mount a strong challenge for victory on race day. The team's focus on optimizing the car's performance for the race, combined with its demonstrated sprint race pace, suggests that Ferrari could be a force to be reckoned with at the United States Grand Prix.