P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari’s season-long pace problem on soft tyres cost Charles Leclerc a chance to challenge Mercedes’ George Russell for a spot on the front row for Saturday’s Formula 1 Sprint at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Carlos Sainz led a Ferrari one-two during the United States Grand Prix weekend’s practice session, but Leclerc topped the Sprint Qualifying’s first session on medium tyres. Sainz later topped the second session; however, Ferrari fell behind Red Bull and Mercedes with the soft tyres in the performance window. Leclerc, who finished third in Sprint Qualifying, highlighted the challenge Ferrari faced on soft tyres compared to their performance on mediums. Despite the difficulties, Leclerc remained optimistic, aiming to recover in the upcoming qualifying session and acknowledging the team’s strong race pace. The limited running during F1 Sprint weekend made it difficult for Leclerc to predict the outcome of the United States GP, with uncertainties surrounding their competitors’ race pace. Leclerc expressed the hope of winning the Sprint race as a positive sign for the main race on Sunday.
