Charles Leclerc’s ’embarrassing’ radio message gives Lewis Hamilton an excuse for Las Vegas Grand Prix woes

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Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 season took another dismal turn in qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc starts from ninth, while Lewis Hamilton was last.

Leclerc was nearly two seconds off Lando Norris’ pole position time and only managed to beat the Alpine of Pierre Gasly in the top-10 shoot-out. Between off-track moments and reports of car problems, it was a messy qualifying session for the Monegasque.

But on the other side of the garage, Hamilton became the first Ferrari driver to qualify last since Giancarlo Fisichella at the 2009 Abu Dhabi GP.

He needed a lap at the end of the session to escape the drop zone, but miscommunication with the pit wall saw him back off.

Charles Leclerc said Ferrari had ‘zero grip’ during Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying

This isn’t the first time Ferrari have struggled in wet conditions this year. At the season opener in Australia, they finished eighth and 10th.

Leclerc also crashed on his lap to the grid in the Miami GP Sprint and came home a season-low 14th at Silverstone.

Ferrari’s car has been disappointing in the dry, but it seems to offer the drivers little confidence when it rains.

Leclerc told engineer Bryan Bozzi that he had ‘no idea where the pace has gone’ during Q3, then vented his frustration after the session had concluded.

“Oh my god, embarrassing, f—— embarrassing!” he fumed. “I don’t get how we can be so off the pace… there is like zero grip, zero f—— grip.”

Leclerc’s radio may not go down well at Ferrari after reports that his explicit outbursts had upset some members of the team.

Lewis Hamilton falls victim to more Ferrari ‘confusion’

Hamilton thought he’d crossed the line too late to go again, but Ferrari engineer Riccardo Adami had already told him to keep pushing.

Bernie Collins noted the ‘confusion’ in Hamilton’s radio after yet another operational error on his side of the Ferrari garage.

The 40-year-old has failed to reach Q3 in seven out of 22 races, while Leclerc has only missed out once.

Hamilton has appeared ‘overwhelmed’ by the pressure he’s facing to adapt at Ferrari, which may be another factor contributing to his uncharacteristic mistakes.

The cycle continues for the seven-time world champion, who arrived at the race with renewed positivity before another gut punch.