Ferrari drivers face tyre and internal challenges at US Grand Prix

Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggled during qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas for the United States Grand Prix. Despite showing strong pace in earlier practice sessions, both drivers failed to secure a front-row start due to the car's extreme sensitivity to track temperature changes. Leclerc, who qualified fourth, noted that a slight drop in temperature during Q3 made it difficult to keep the tyres within the optimal operating window.

Leclerc expressed frustration with the car's performance, describing the tyre window as "absolutely awful" in untelevised radio communications. He has called for a team investigation into how the car manages tyre heat. Hamilton, qualifying fifth, attributed his performance to a power deficit and technical issues with the front wing setup, noting he had been running with insufficient wing angle throughout the race.

Beyond technical hurdles, the team is managing internal dynamics between the two drivers. Following previous on-track tensions, such as an incident at the Italian Grand Prix, Leclerc emphasized that both he and Hamilton understand the professional boundaries required to avoid further conflict during competitive racing.