Twelve months in the past, when Carlos Sainz was profitable 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 struggle this season.
What you in all probability 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 prime 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 total race tempo from Ferrari to this point this season – and fluctuating type among the many different groups – made it powerful to actually consider. But as apply 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 eye catching effort and left him on provisional pole, with Lewis Hamilton additionally within the prime three. For Lando Norris to go and beat the pair took one thing fairly particular and left Leclerc upset to solely be second on the grid.
“Just a little bit [disappointed] – after the primary lap in Q3, I believed this was a extremely good lap,” Leclerc admitted. “I knew there was a bit bit extra to return, however not a lot. Contemplating the gaps that have 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 bounce Lando did from the primary to the second run in Q3. I simply don’t suppose we had the tempo right this moment to match that. There was a bit bit right here and there, however I don’t suppose it could have been sufficient for pole place anyway.”
Regardless of missing the ultimate little bit of tempo for pole, it was Ferrari’s finest mixed qualifying efficiency of the 12 months and continued some regular progress that has seen the workforce exploit extra of its potential – no matter that is likely to 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 feel it’s a bit bit in every single place. I feel the processes and all of the small variations make an enormous distinction on the finish, and we improved all that in the previous few weekends.
“We needed to handle another issues at one level of the season, which now we’re in a bit extra of a snug place, however the tempo in itself is extra right down to small particulars in every single place quite 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 finest qualifying efficiency this 12 months. Hector Vivas/Getty Photos
Maybe essentially the most notable distinction has been a extra constant qualifying run for Hamilton, who secured his finest grand prix beginning place of the 12 months to this point. Build up all through the weekend, Hamilton was in a position to get inside 0.09s of his teammate and was most inspired by the steps within the closing a part of qualifying which were missing for a lot of 2025.
“I feel this can be a peculiar circuit, clearly, with the altitude, so we maybe are nearer than we’d usually be,” Hamilton mentioned. “It’s tough 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 huge variations. It feels nice to lastly get into Q3 and be capable of ship good laps and be aggressive. That’s been an issue all 12 months, notably on my aspect.”
This 12 months has been a steep studying curve for Hamilton in his new atmosphere, however the seven-time world champion attributes a few of Ferrari’s latest positive factors to each the work the workforce has carried out to make enhancements to the way in which it operates, but additionally his personal adaptability to the automobile.
“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 feel we’re simply constantly tightening up on a few of these areas.
“I feel simply how Charles and I’ve labored collectively to maneuver the automobile and develop it ahead has been actually optimistic over the race weekends. Our automobiles are just about an identical now, and I’m lastly determining drive this automobile that Charles has been lucky to drive for the previous seven years, by way of 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 principle challenger heading into Sunday’s race. Hamilton is aware of the stakes are greater for the motive force on pole place than the 2 purple automobiles behind him.
“Undoubtedly 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 struggle.”
Beat Norris and Ferrari may actually assist restrict the injury 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 method, they might be set to have an enormous affect.
