Twelve months in the past, when Carlos Sainz was successful in Mexico Metropolis and Charles Leclerc led residence a one-two only a week earlier in Austin, you wouldn’t have been silly for pondering Ferrari may play a major function within the title combat this season.
What you most likely didn’t see coming was that function first rising on the twentieth spherical of the season, and being as an influencer in another person’s battle, however that’s precisely the place Ferrari finds itself this weekend on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, after getting each automobiles within the high three in qualifying, behind one title contender and forward of two others.
It was a efficiency that many predicted previous to arriving in Mexico Metropolis, however the lack of general race tempo from Ferrari thus far this season – and fluctuating type among the many different groups – made it robust to really imagine. But as observe advanced into qualifying, the Ferrari drivers remained close to the highest of the occasions, proper as much as the beginning of Q3.
Charles Leclerc’s first lap was an attention-grabbing effort and left him on provisional pole, with Lewis Hamilton additionally within the high three. For Lando Norris to go and beat the pair took one thing fairly particular and left Leclerc disenchanted to solely be second on the grid.
“Just a little bit [disappointed] – after the primary lap in Q3, I assumed this was a very good lap,” Leclerc admitted. “I knew there was just a little bit extra to return, however not a lot. Contemplating the gaps that had been behind, I used to be like, ‘OK, let’s see the way it goes. I’ll nonetheless go flat out on the second lap and see the place we find yourself.’
“I used to be very stunned, clearly, by the leap Lando did from the primary to the second run in Q3. I simply don’t suppose we had the tempo at the moment to match that. There was just a little bit right here and there, however I don’t suppose it might have been sufficient for pole place anyway.”
Regardless of missing the ultimate little bit of tempo for pole, it was Ferrari’s greatest mixed qualifying efficiency of the yr and continued some regular progress that has seen the workforce exploit extra of its potential – no matter that may be – in latest races.
“I don’t suppose there’s a silver bullet or one thing that we’ve modified considerably that makes us so much higher now than three, 4, 5 races in the past,” Leclerc mentioned. “I believe it’s just a little bit in all places. I believe the processes and all of the small variations make a giant distinction on the finish, and we improved all that in the previous couple of weekends.
“We needed to handle another issues at one level of the season, which now we’re in a bit extra of a cushty place, however the tempo in itself is extra all the way down to small particulars in all places reasonably than one thing standing out.”
Certain, Mexico Metropolis’s altitude could lend sure challenges that shrink gaps within the discipline, however Hamilton says Ferrari’s intra-team work might be the most important issue of their greatest qualifying efficiency this yr. Hector Vivas/Getty Pictures
Maybe probably the most notable distinction has been a extra constant qualifying run for Hamilton, who secured his greatest grand prix beginning place of the yr thus far. Build up all through the weekend, Hamilton was capable of get inside 0.09s of his teammate and was most inspired by the steps within the closing a part of qualifying which have been missing for a lot of 2025.
“I believe it is a peculiar circuit, clearly, with the altitude, so we maybe are nearer than we might usually be,” Hamilton mentioned. “It’s troublesome to say the place we’ll be within the subsequent races. I’m undecided we’ll be as shut as we’re, however I do suppose by way of these small enhancements that we’ve made – they make large variations. It feels nice to lastly get into Q3 and have the ability to ship good laps and be aggressive. That’s been an issue all yr, notably on my aspect.”
This yr has been a steep studying curve for Hamilton in his new surroundings, however the seven-time world champion attributes a few of Ferrari’s latest beneficial properties to each the work the workforce has accomplished to make enhancements to the best way it operates, but in addition his personal adaptability to the automotive.
“We proceed to enhance on our course of – from the second we arrive, to our debriefs, to the selections we make as a workforce inside engineering, inside once we exit – all these various things, so I believe we’re simply constantly tightening up on a few of these areas.
“I believe simply how Charles and I’ve labored collectively to maneuver the automotive and develop it ahead has been actually optimistic over the race weekends. Our automobiles are just about similar now, and I’m lastly determining the best way to drive this automotive that Charles has been lucky to drive for the previous seven years, when it comes to the traits. I’m lastly feeling like I’m getting there, so it is good.”
Whereas Norris says his feeling “clicked” within the McLaren in Q3, it’s honest to say one thing additionally clicked for Ferrari this weekend to depart it as the primary challenger heading into Sunday’s race. Hamilton is aware of the stakes are larger for the motive force on pole place than the 2 pink automobiles behind him.
“Positively wish to be racy tomorrow,” Hamilton mentioned of the beginning. “I don’t have something to lose, however he [Norris] does, so I’ll be…yeah, we’ll be fairly aggressive, I’m fairly positive. Hopefully we’ll be shut sufficient to place up a very good combat.”
Beat Norris and Ferrari may actually assist restrict the harm for each Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Present sturdy tempo however end behind the polesitter, and each Leclerc and Hamilton abruptly change into Norris’ allies in making a buffer to his title rivals. Both means, they might be set to have a giant affect.
