Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton shared their thoughts following the Sprint Qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix, highlighting Ferrari’s ongoing challenge with outright pace. Leclerc secured third place on the grid, trailing pole sitter Max Verstappen by around two-tenths of a second, while Hamilton qualified sixth, separated by the two McLaren drivers.
Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari was simply "not fast enough to fight" for pole position during the session. He noted that despite switching from medium to soft Pirelli tyres in the final segment and extracting the maximum possible lap time, the team still lacked the pace compared to rivals Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren. This gap in speed has been a concern for Ferrari over the last few races, as both drivers have noticed a drop in performance.
Hamilton’s session was marked by difficulties with oversteer and rear grip on his final flying lap, which compromised his qualifying position. He admitted that his different run plan was a personal choice and that he misjudged the approach, resulting in a less competitive final lap despite showing good pace earlier in the session.
The comments from both drivers underline the challenges Ferrari faces in matching the outright speed of their closest competitors in this phase of the season. While Leclerc focused on the team’s pace deficit, Hamilton’s reflections pointed to the fine margins in tyre performance and setup decisions that can influence qualifying outcomes.
Ferrari’s position behind Red Bull and other front-running teams in Singapore Sprint Qualifying highlights the competitive nature of the championship and the ongoing battle to optimise car performance. The session also showed the strength of McLaren, who split the two Ferrari drivers on the grid.
Both drivers’ remarks suggest that Ferrari is aware of the need to address the recent dip in pace, but no specific technical or strategic details were discussed in relation to the qualifying session. The focus remains on extracting the best possible performance from the current package under challenging conditions.
Leclerc and Hamilton’s assessments provide a clear snapshot of Ferrari’s situation after the Sprint Qualifying in Singapore, emphasizing the current limitations in outright speed and the impact on their starting positions. Their candid reflections offer insight into the ongoing efforts to close the gap with their rivals in the highly competitive environment of Formula 1®.