Leclerc Laments Ferrari's Missed Podium Chance in Las Vegas GP After McLaren Disqualifications

Charles Leclerc didn’t just miss the podium in Las Vegas—he felt like Ferrari threw away a real shot at something special. The 27-year-old Monégasque driver finished fourth at the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 22, 2025, but the result was bittersweet. After both McLaren cars were disqualified for a skid wear infringement, Leclerc moved up from sixth to fourth, scoring 12 championship points for Scuderia Ferrari. Yet instead of celebration, there was frustration. "We lost a good opportunity to do something special," he said, his voice tight with disappointment. "I felt the pace was there. It just didn’t come together when it mattered most."

Here’s the thing: Leclerc’s fourth place wasn’t just a lucky bump up the grid. It was the best race of his 2025 season. He started ninth, clawed his way through traffic with bold moves, and looked like a man on a mission during the first stint. He was lapping faster than the leaders, carving gaps, and making the most of Ferrari’s straight-line speed. But then came the second stint—and the wall. Oscar Piastri, the Australian driver for McLaren, had the DRS advantage from a prior undercut, and Leclerc, running high downforce to protect his tires, couldn’t get close enough to even try a pass. "It was nearly impossible," Leclerc admitted. "I had to take massive risks, and even then, nothing worked."

McLaren’s Historic Disqualification Changes the Game

The race’s most shocking twist came after the checkered flag. Both McLaren cars—Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri—were stripped of their results for violating the new skid block regulations. It was the first time in Formula One history that both cars from the same team had been disqualified from a Grand Prix. Norris had crossed the line second; Piastri, third. Suddenly, Leclerc moved into fourth, Carlos Sainz Jr. of Williams Racing into fifth, and Isack Hadjar of Visa Cash App RB into sixth. The disqualifications sent shockwaves through the paddock. Some called it harsh; others said it was long overdue. For Ferrari, it was a cruel irony: they benefited from a penalty they didn’t cause, yet still felt robbed.

Wet Weather Woes: The Real Enemy

But Leclerc’s frustration wasn’t just about Las Vegas. It was about the whole season. "We’ve been on the back foot too many times," he said, referring to Ferrari’s chronic struggles in wet conditions. At the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025, Free Practice 1 and 2 on November 21 had shown promise. Leclerc was third in FP2, behind Norris and Kimi-Matias Antonelli of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. But qualifying? A disaster. Rain hit the track just as drivers were pushing for their final laps. Leclerc qualified ninth. Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, ended up last in qualifying—a rare low point for the seven-time champion. "It’s not just us," Leclerc added. "We’re losing points in qualifying, in races, in every wet session. And it’s costing us at the end of the year."

That’s the real story. Ferrari entered the Las Vegas weekend with a 14-point gap to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in the Constructors’ Championship. They were still mathematically in contention for second, but every wet race—like the Canadian Grand Prix, the British GP, and now this one—has been a point sinkhole. Leclerc knows it. "This is for sure a priority that I’ll set myself from now on," he said. "It was already high. Now it’s even higher."

The Bigger Picture: Championship Implications

Before Las Vegas, Lando Norris led the Drivers’ Championship with 390 points. Piastri was second at 366. Verstappen, who won the race, was third at 341. Leclerc entered the weekend with 262 points—still too far back to challenge for the title, but close enough to matter in the fight for second in the Constructors’ standings. With the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi just a week away on November 29, Ferrari needs every point. And Leclerc’s performance in Las Vegas? It was his most complete race of the year. He outpaced his teammate Sainz. He outperformed the Mercedes duo. He made the car dance on a track where most drivers struggled.

Still, the disappointment lingers. "It’s not about the position," Leclerc said. "It’s about what we could’ve done if the conditions had been fair. If we’d had the car we showed in FP2, we could’ve been on the podium. Maybe even fighting for the win."

What’s Next for Ferrari?

With only one race left, Ferrari’s focus is laser-sharp: fix the wet-weather setup. The team’s aerodynamicists are already working on revised front wing and floor configurations. Leclerc says he’ll spend the next 48 hours in the simulator, testing different tire compounds and suspension settings for wet conditions. "We can’t afford another Saturday like this," he said. "We’ve got to turn this around."

And then there’s the human side. Leclerc, once the golden boy of Ferrari, has carried the team through years of inconsistency. His passion, his honesty, his relentless drive—he’s become the emotional core of the team. When he says "we lost a good opportunity," it’s not just about points. It’s about pride. About what could’ve been. And for a driver who’s raced with so much heart this season, that’s the heaviest loss of all.