The Sao Paulo Grand Prix proved to be a challenging weekend for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing eighth and ninth respectively at Interlagos. As reported by Latest F1 News, the Italian squad struggled significantly with tyre temperatures throughout the event, a week after finishing a close second in Mexico City.
Tyre Temperature Issues Dominate Ferrari’s Sunday
Both drivers entered the weekend facing 10-place grid penalties for taking new power unit elements. Hamilton’s situation worsened during the weekend when an issue with his new engine in FP3 forced a further change for Qualifying, dropping him to 20th on the grid while Leclerc started 14th.
Hamilton made a brilliant start, gaining 11 places on the opening lap before yielding a position to Ollie Bearman for moving off the track. However, both drivers quickly encountered severe difficulties keeping their intermediate tyres in the correct operating window, preventing them from making meaningful progress.
Hamilton became the first driver to switch to slick tyres as he sought a solution to his lack of pace. Despite surviving a spin when rain returned, he crossed the finish line in ninth place. Leclerc found competitive speed late in the race, but a collision while trying to overtake Liam Lawson for seventh resulted in a penalty that dropped him to eighth in the final classification.
Team Principal Fred Vasseur Assesses the Weekend
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur confirmed that tyre performance dictated the team’s difficult Sunday, noting that tyre temperature issues caused massive performance swings in certain conditions. As reported by Latest F1 News, Vasseur explained that tyre management issues have a far greater impact than vehicle characteristics or car upgrades, noting that tyre performance differences can cost half a second per lap.
Vasseur admitted that starting from the back with grid penalties compounded their troubles, especially given the team’s ongoing top-speed deficiencies. Regarding Hamilton’s early switch to dry tyres, Vasseur stated that the team was being aggressive, though perhaps a bit too much so, noting that Fernando Alonso was quicker on the following lap using intermediate tyres.
The Sao Paulo weekend also saw Mercedes secure the 2026 Constructors’ Championship, leaving Ferrari in second place and extending Maranello’s championship drought that dates back to 2008. Vasseur praised the team’s development efforts on the engine and chassis sides despite the tough campaign, while offering his congratulations to Mercedes.
