Charles Leclerc cut a downbeat figure after a bruising night for Ferrari in Singapore, concluding that the team cannot “extract much more” from its current package.
Brake management dominates Ferrari’s race
Qualifying sixth and seventh set the tone, but the real damage came on Sunday as Ferrari had to employ aggressive lift-and-coast to protect brakes. Leclerc said he was lifting nearly 200m earlier than usual into some corners just to get the car home, ultimately in P6.
Lewis Hamilton’s attempt to attack Kimi Antonelli after a late stop for fresh tyres ended with a brake failure and a penalty for cutting corners in the closing laps, leaving him eighth.
Where Ferrari stands in the pecking order
Leclerc’s assessment was stark: McLaren’s advantage has held since the start of the year, Red Bull has stepped up since Monza to match McLaren, and Mercedes has now joined that tier — with Ferrari a clear step behind.
The constructors’ picture tightens
Ferrari sits on 298 points, 27 behind Mercedes and only eight ahead of a resurgent Red Bull. For a team desperate to fight at the front, Leclerc’s verdict lands like a warning: the Scuderia feels like a passenger to its own machinery.
Leclerc’s key quotes
- “From lap eight, it was basically all about managing the brakes… our whole race was very tricky.”
- “We don’t have the race car to fight with the guys in front… it feels like we are passengers to the car.”
