Charles Leclerc’s unheard radio message during Miami GP qualifying justifies Lewis Hamilton’s complaints about Ferrari’s F1 car

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Charles Leclerc won’t look back at Saturday’s running at the Miami Grand Prix particularly fondly.

After once again qualifying ahead of new Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, eight-time race winner Charles Leclerc didn’t even make it to the grid.

After being sent out on a soaking wet track on intermediate tyres, Leclerc aquaplaned into the barrier, leaving him unable to take the start.

Hamilton nailed his strategy during the Sprint Race to take his second podium finish of the season but admitted afterwards that he nearly followed his teammate into the wall.

Leclerc’s mechanics were able to fix his car before qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix but it was an even tougher session for Ferrari.

The Ferrari duo were supposed to start sixth and seventh in the Sprint Race but will line up eighth and 12th for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Hamilton lamented Ferrari for not fitting new soft tyres in Q2 when he was eliminated, but Lelerc’s final radio message will confirm that it wasn’t a problem only he was facing with the SF-25 this weekend.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Charles Leclerc left baffled by Ferrari’s car during Miami Grand Prix qualifying

Leclerc only managed to complete one flying lap during the top 10 shootout on Saturday after making a critical error coming out of the last corner on his first run.

The Monegasque driver has a reputation for being rapid over one lap but the car is simply not on the same level as Ferrari’s desired rivals.

Both Williams drivers outpaced Leclerc, and after the session ended, he came on the team radio and said, via F1TV, “My god. My god. I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t get it.”

Hamilton will be relieved that Leclerc was equally baffled by Ferrari’s lack of pace in Miami.

The seven-time world champion was within a tenth of his teammate in Q2 but that wasn’t enough to progress, highlighting how far Ferrari have fallen in recent races.

Damon Hill has spotted a ‘habit’ Hamilton has to drop to succeed at Ferrari, but Leclerc is also making it clear that neither driver is completely responsible for their underwhelming campaign thus far.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Charles Leclerc laments ‘tough weekend’ after Miami GP Sprint Race crash

Speaking to the media after qualifying, Leclerc explained, “It’s been a tough weekend so far.

“This morning wasn’t a great start, and in qualifying, I expected to have a chance to turn things around.

“We just don’t have the pace and the grip our competitors have and a track like this reveals this weakness even more.

“This is not the result we want as a team and there’s a lot of work ahead of us.”

Leclerc and Hamilton will be working together to work out what’s going wrong at Ferrari and while they’ve gone from being McLaren’s closest challengers at the end of last season to outsiders when it comes to even discussing which drivers might finish on the podium.

If Williams can keep up their strong showing in Miami going forward, then all of a sudden, Ferrari are facing the ignominy of being dragged into the midfield battle.

That’s not why Hamilton decided to leave Mercedes after 12 successful seasons, and not what Leclerc has dedicated his Formula 1 career to at the Scuderia.