Leclerc points to Ferrari's 'raw performance' deficit on 2026 rivals ahead of Austin GP
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc discusses the team's ongoing struggle with the SF-26's raw performance compared to rivals. Despite strong simulator correlation and good car balance, Leclerc notes that the team consistently loses ground during qualifying sessions.
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Charles Leclerc has said Ferrari 's problem in 2026 has been the "raw performance" of the SF-26 rather than set-up. The Monegasque's comments come as the Scuderia look set to introduce one last major upgrade at the United States Grand Prix this weekend.
A common trend in 2026 has seen Ferrari look competitive in practice but then fall back behind their rivals once Qualifying gets underway. Leclerc believes rivals simply have "something we don't" when it's time to set the grid for Sunday's race.
"I'm not sure we are particularly good on Fridays," he told media, including GPblog . "I mean we are, but I believe it comes more from the engine modes that others are running, and once we come to qualifying, they just have something that we don't."
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