Leclerc: Ferrari « Has No Way Out » This Weekend at Qatar GP

The Monegasque driver was candid in his assessment, admitting that Ferrari’s SF-25 car was “incredibly difficult to drive” and that there was no realistic way to rescue a poor weekend for the Scuderia at the Lusail International Circuit.

A « Nightmare » Driving Experience

From the start of the race weekend, Leclerc encountered difficulties controlling the car, describing the experience as a “nightmare” that began in the earliest practice sessions. His challenges were visible on track, including a significant high-speed spin during Q2 where he narrowly avoided crashing. Despite pushing hard and taking considerable risks on every corner, his best lap in Q3 only earned a 10th place starting spot, which he acknowledged as the maximum performance he could extract from the Ferrari.

Team Struggles & 2026 Focus

Ferrari’s struggles were not limited to Leclerc alone. His teammate Lewis Hamilton also suffered throughout the weekend, starting the sprint race well down the order and continuing to battle a tricky car setup. Team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed that Ferrari had shifted focus to next season’s 2026 car development back in April, suggesting the current SF-25’s issues might not be fully solvable in the current campaign.

Technical Issues: Lack of Downforce

The SF-25’s fundamental problems included lack of downforce, and a car that was difficult to stabilize through medium and high-speed corners. Leclerc highlighted frustrating handling traits such as mid-corner understeer and oversteer on entry and exit, making it extremely hard to keep the car on track.

Bleak Outlook

With only a few races remaining in the 2025 season, the situation for Ferrari looks bleak as they fall further behind their rivals in both qualifying pace and race performance. Leclerc’s blunt assessment paints a picture of a team struggling to find answers, facing a tough road ahead until significant changes in regulations and car design come into effect for 2026.