MONDAY MORNING DEBRIEF: As Leclerc bags his first podium of the year, why is Ferrari’s race pace at odds with their Qualifying performance?


Charles Leclerc admitted in Saudi Arabia that his third place in the Grand Prix was a “dream result” given the current state of competitiveness of his Ferrari. But how did Leclerc manage to seal a first podium of the season, and why is his car not behaving as he would like?
Running long on the medium tyre in the opening stint, he found the car’s balance to be vastly improved once George Russell ahead of him had pitted out of his way.

Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free.
Membership gets you closer with:
Curated insider content
Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences
Member benefits, rewards and offers
Next Up
Related Articles
What tyres will the teams and drivers have in Austin?
Driver marketWho's in the frame for the second Alpine seat for 2026?
The ultimate fan guide to the US Grand Prix in Austin
UnlockedVerstappen's era-defining win from 17th on the grid
Russell stars in first episode of ‘Passenger Princess’
Listen to our United States GP preview