Leclerc blames himself after Hamilton's first pole since 2023

Charles Leclerc blamed himself after qualifying third in Mexico City, behind Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc said he had a clean out lap in his second Q3 run but still did not do enough. “So I can only be angry with myself,” he said. Hamilton’s pole was his first since 2023.

Leclerc said tyre preparation was key and that he struggled to get the same out-lap conditions throughout qualifying. He was third in all three qualifying segments, beating Hamilton only in Q2.

Leclerc had been quickest on Friday. He said Ferrari was strong in the corners, but paid for less power and probably more drag on the straights; in his view, Mexico City’s high altitude softened that penalty.

Before the race, Leclerc said Ferrari had good race pace but expected overtaking to be difficult after Turn 3, since the overtake mode did little.