Charles Leclerc pumped the brakes on Ferrari’s momentum Friday, warning that back-to-back Free Practice victories at the United States Grand Prix could still fall short of delivering a pole position.
The Monegasque driver topped the timing sheets in both sessions at Circuit of the Americas, edging out Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli. Yet Leclerc pushed back against early optimism, pointing to a pack of rivals who may have hidden pace waiting to emerge when Qualifying begins.
Ferrari rolled out a package of aerodynamic updates for the Austin weekend, including revisions to the floor, sidepod inlet, and diffuser. Lewis Hamilton downplayed the expected gains from those changes, suggesting they would produce only marginal improvements.
Leclerc acknowledged the car felt balanced and responsive, but cautioned that Friday pace rarely tells the full story. Other teams, he noted, often unlock additional performance overnight and during final practice.
Team Principal Fred Vasseur struck a similar tone. While encouraged by the initial speed, he stressed that Free Practice results do not always translate into true one-lap qualifying potential. Continued refinement of the new package remains essential, he said.
Vasseur pointed to the tightening competitive landscape, with several teams in contention for pole position. Dirty air conditions could further complicate the picture, making clean laps harder to come by in the crucial Saturday session.
Ferrari last celebrated a race win at Silverstone, the ninth round of the season. That drought underscores why both driver and principal remain focused on sustained progress rather than headline-grabbing practice times.
Qualifying now looms as the first real test of whether the upgrades can deliver under pressure against a field packed with contenders.
