In the Sprint tests, the best time went to Norris on the Mc Laren ahead of a great Kimi Antonelli on the Mercedes. Verstappen was only sixth
“We are not competitive.” The comment by Charles Leclerc at the end of Q3 of the Sprint tests of the Brazilian Grand Prix It is indicative of Ferrari’s current situation. And the confirmation comes soon after Lewis Hamilton fails to qualify for Q1 closing Q2 with the eleventh fastest time. In Sao Paulo, with a strange choice, Ferrari had practically given up on running in free practice which ended with the eighteenth and nineteenth times. Then with the medium tires things didn’t improve, only the Monegasque managed to get the time to have a chance in Q1, but the eighth fastest time can certainly not be considered satisfactory for the Reds who continue in their very unfortunate 2025, in which the Maranello cars failed to win even a grand prix.
McLaren dominance
The best time was achieved by the World Championship leader Lando Norris which preceded an extraordinary one Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes. Immediately afterwards the other Mc Laren by Oscar Piastri who will start from the second row flanked by the other Mercedes, that of George Russell. Fifth was Fernando Alonso, author of an excellent performance with his Aston Martin, so much so that he closed Q2 with the best time. Disappointing Max Verstappen with Red Bull, the Dutchman’s sixth place is a negative sign also in view of the official tests which will determine the starting grid on Sunday. But the hopes of recovering points even in the Sprint at this point seem few for Verstappen because the Mc Larens seemed to be the fastest cars.
Leclerc frustrated
«I’m not happy, the car was very slow. We didn’t have a bad feeling behind the wheel, but we just didn’t have pace. There’s something we need to work on for tomorrow.”he explained in a pragmatic but visibly worried tone Charles Leclerc. «The first lap was good, then I missed an upward climb and left a tenth and a half. Even so, at most I would have been seventh. We need to understand where we lost performance, because I didn’t have a bad balance, but the speed wasn’t there. Tomorrow we’ll try anyway, I’ll try something new, but I’m not sure how it will go”. Even more bitter is the comment Lewis Hamilton at the end of the day: “I try to have fun, because at this point in the season I have to do that. It’s not going well, but I just have to enjoy it Whatever position I’m in, that’s what I can do“.
