Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 car possesses “a lot of potential” despite the team experiencing a disastrous qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix.

Ferrari appeared to have the package to contest pole position around the Albert Park Circuit when Leclerc headed the second practice session over the McLaren duo.

However, that pace didn’t materialise when it mattered as Leclerc wound up seventh on the grid, one place above his new Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton in eighth.

The Monegasque had been in touching distance on his opening run in Q3 – less than a tenth behind Max Verstappen – but was unable to improve on his last timed lap.

Leclerc, who was more than six-tenths down on Lando Norris’ pole position time, admitted that Ferrari lost speed relative to the opposition with each passing session.

“As soon as we started to push the car more and more and more, we found more and more inconsistency, which was a bit of a shame,” Leclerc told media including Motorsport Week.

“We lost a little bit the pace throughout qualifying. Q1 we were good, Q2 a little bit less good, and Q3 we had to push a lot to try and make the lap time. 

“But we didn’t really follow the track for some reason, so we’ve got to look into it and maximise tomorrow.”

Ferrari had been strong versus its rivals through the combination of corners that make up the third sector in practice, but that trend wasn’t maintained into qualifying.

“I think tyres are also where in the last sector you have the most overheating,” Leclerc highlighted.

“And I was struggling with it today a lot more than I did yesterday. So this is something that we’ll look into.”

Leclerc implores Ferrari to investigate set-up changes

Leclerc divulged that Ferrari would investigate whether the set-up tweaks the side committed to overnight in a bid to improve the car’s balance had a negative impact.

“I think we’ve lost relative competitiveness compared to yesterday, which we know what we’ve changed, so we’ll have to look into it for sure,” he added.

However, Leclerc has denied that Ferrari’s 2025 car harbours a narrower operating window than its predecessor, despite the vast changes in comparison to the SF-24.

“I wouldn’t conclude that yet,” he retorted. “But in Q3, again, as a matter of fact, it was very difficult.”

“Today in Q3 was particularly difficult. Before that, I had no signs of this. We’ve got to wait and see. Today was particularly difficult in Q3 especially.”

Ferrari gap to McLaren not representative

The eight-time F1 race winner has insisted that the Maranello-based squad’s substantial gap to McLaren over a single lap isn’t representative of the SF-25’s true pace.

“I hope we are fighting closer to McLaren,” he admitted. “The feeling is that we are closer than the P1 now. Just in Q3, we lost our balance, we lost the window. 

“When the gaps are so tight, it’s very difficult to put a lap together as a driver. I think the gaps today are bigger than what they should be.

“But as I’ve said many times before coming here, it’s only the first race of the season, and it’s only a starting point. It’s going to be a very long season. 

“We’ve just got to stay calm, maximise points tomorrow, whatever that may be, and work from there.

“I think this car has a lot of potential, but for now we don’t seem to be in the right window. So we’ve got to find it.”

Alongside both McLarens, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and George Russell’s Mercedes, Ferrari will line-up behind Yuki Tsunoda’s Racing Bulls and Alex Albon’s Williams.

Put to him that there is no margin for error now, Leclerc concluded: “This for sure. This is a good thing for F1; we’ve got to be honest.”