Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc expressed frustration following a disappointing weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he qualified seventh despite being a two-time polesitter at the circuit. Leclerc’s challenges at this event highlight ongoing difficulties for the SF-25 on street tracks, raising concerns about Ferrari’s performance as the season continues.
Decline in Performance Through Practice and Qualifying Sessions
Leclerc started the weekend strongly, finishing second-fastest in Free Practice 1, but his pace deteriorated in subsequent sessions, placing ninth and tenth in Free Practice 2 and 3 respectively. During qualifying, he progressed through the stages as eighth fastest in Q1, sixth in Q2, and ultimately secured seventh in Q3, falling short of his usual standards at this venue.
“We got off to a good start in FP1,”
Leclerc told Canal+.
“Then we had to make some tweaks, and unfortunately we’ve been struggling since FP2 – especially me, I must say, as I was nowhere in FP2 and FP3.”
He also noted a disturbing inability to connect with the car over the last two weekends, particularly on street circuits where he typically feels confident.
“I’ve been completely unable to feel the car over the last two weekends, and what’s weird is that has been on street circuits where I typically am rather confident. We need to work and understand what’s wrong, because I’m not at the level where I should be and we’re losing points.”
Car Handling Issues Affecting Grip and Stability
Leclerc was outpaced in qualifying by Lewis Hamilton for the first time since the British Grand Prix, with Hamilton’s lap edging ahead by nearly one tenth of a second in Q3. The difference in performance was linked to the behaviour of the Ferrari SF-25, which Leclerc described as lacking grip and handling unpredictably.
“I am really, really struggling to find the grip,”
Leclerc explained to Sky Sports F1.
“I have a lot of understeer on the car, but the car is still very snappy and unpredictable, and I know that it’s not my strength whenever there’s understeer in the car.”
He added,
“This weekend [it] has been the case from FP2 to qualifying, and we don’t really find any ways out without making the car even more unpredictable, which is not what you want on a city track, so it’s been a very, very tough weekend.”
Recent Difficulties on Street Circuits Increase Pressure
These struggles come shortly after a challenging weekend in Baku, another street circuit where Leclerc had previously excelled with four consecutive pole positions from 2021 to 2024. At the most recent Baku race, he was unable to compete for top positions, crashing during Q3 and finishing ninth.
When asked if these problems were specific to certain tracks, Leclerc admitted uncertainty.
“I hope it’s circuit-specific, but for now I don’t quite have the explanation, because it’s not like we changed massively the car in the last two races.”
He had pinned his hopes on street tracks as key opportunities for Ferrari to contend for wins in 2025, with upcoming races like Las Vegas seen as possible chances for success. Yet, Leclerc’s optimism has waned.
“We are not anywhere close to being on the level of McLaren, Red Bull and actually now Mercedes – on some occasions, and actually quite recently, they’ve just been a step [ahead],”
he acknowledged in post-qualifying comments.
Championship Implications of Continued Struggles
If the Singapore GP results were to remain unchanged for the race, Ferrari’s points deficit to second-placed Mercedes in the championship standings would widen significantly, from four points to 27. Meanwhile, Red Bull would close the gap to just 10 points behind Ferrari. Leclerc’s remark about losing points highlights a growing concern within the team about their competitiveness.
Amid mounting pressure, Leclerc and Ferrari face a critical phase where resolving the SF-25’s handling issues and regaining their edge on street circuits will be essential to keep pace with teams like McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes in the title fight this season.
