Both Ferrari drivers, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, have expressed confidence in their chances of competing for victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix after securing strong positions in qualifying. Carlos Sainz will start from second on the grid, while Charles Leclerc will line up in fourth, setting the stage for an exciting race under the lights on Saturday night.
Mercedes continued their strong form from practice sessions, with George Russell claiming pole position after topping all three practice sessions (FP1, FP2, and FP3). However, it was Carlos Sainz who emerged as their closest rival, securing a front-row start and showing impressive pace throughout the weekend.
“I must have had a good lap to get within a tenth of George and Mercedes, who have clearly dominated all weekend,” said Sainz after qualifying. “At the same time, it puts us in a good position for tomorrow to fight for the win.”
Carlos Sainz remained optimistic about his and Ferrari’s chances in the upcoming race, despite acknowledging the unpredictable nature of racing. “Everything is still open, too many variables to predict what will happen tomorrow, but at least we have placed ourselves in what I think is the best position to fight for the win,” he added.
Looking ahead to the race, Sainz highlighted the importance of managing tire wear on the medium tires and making a quick switch to the hard tires for better grip. He also mentioned that Ferrari has struggled with harder tires this season, but he remains confident that their race pace will give them a strong chance to compete for victory.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc expressed frustration over a “nightmare” end to his qualifying session, admitting that teammate Carlos Sainz had done a better job of getting the Pirelli tires into the optimal operating window throughout the weekend.
“The pace is there… I’m very fast after three laps, but in qualifying, you cannot afford to do that,” Leclerc said. “Carlos has been much better than me since FP1 in putting the tires in the right window for the first lap – he’s done a better job in qualifying.”
In Q3, Leclerc struggled with the cold front tires during his final run, which caused significant understeer throughout the lap. “I really tried my best to improve, but for whatever reason, and I don’t have an explanation for now, in Q3, my last run was a nightmare,” he explained.
Despite his difficulties in qualifying, Leclerc remains optimistic about Ferrari’s chances in the race. “I think we are strong in race pace, so that’s a good thing. We will do our best to try and come back. I’m not only targeting a podium; a win would be great. I think the pace is there, and if we do everything perfectly, this is achievable.”
As Ferrari continues to improve their qualifying results, they are also focused on the Constructors’ Championship. The team is currently second in the standings, 36 points behind leaders McLaren, who will start from sixth and eighth with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
With strong performances from both drivers and competitive race pace, Ferrari is ready to challenge for victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and hopes to close the gap to McLaren in the standings. The stage is set for thrilling racing under the iconic lights of Las Vegas
