Mexico City, Oct 24 (NationPress) Charles Leclerc has moderated his expectations for additional podium finishes this season, despite achieving his first top-three result since Belgium at the United States Grand Prix last week. The Ferrari driver's third position in Austin signifies his and the team's sixth podium of 2025 — with five being third places and one a second place in Monaco.

“I am not surprised that we are slightly lacking in performance as the season comes to a close, especially since it appears that both Mercedes and Red Bull may have extended their development phases longer than some competitors,” Leclerc remarked on Friday. “When we assess our gap to McLaren, it has remained relatively unchanged. Our focus is more on the upcoming year, which I hope will yield better results.”

Ferrari concluded its car development earlier than its rivals, opting instead to enhance performance through careful adjustments to set-up and operations. Leclerc noted that the podium in Austin served as an essential morale booster. “It has been a lengthy wait, and it’s uplifting for everyone on the team to finally witness some progress,” he stated. “Nevertheless, while it was a very encouraging weekend, consistently contending for podiums from here on is a tall order, but I will strive to replicate this success this weekend.”

While Leclerc celebrated his return to the podium, his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton matched his season's best with a fourth-place finish at the Circuit of The Americas, equaling his result from Silverstone. Still pursuing his first podium with Ferrari, Hamilton expressed his growing comfort with the car. “I’m finally feeling in control of the vehicle,” he shared post-race, characterizing the weekend as a significant advancement.

Arriving in Mexico, Hamilton was optimistic about continuing this positive trend. “After a successful weekend, I’m confident we can replicate our performance. I believe we are moving in the right direction,” he asserted.

The seven-time World Champion emphasized that progress stemmed from patience and cooperation since joining Ferrari this season. “I feel that we’re on the right path, and as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so it requires time to develop,” he explained.

“Upon joining the team, I wanted to respect their historical methods and truly observe where our strengths and weaknesses lie, as well as identify areas needing improvement,” he added.

“However, I genuinely believe they have been responsive. You’re starting to see some of the effects of our efforts in the background,” Leclerc concluded.