Ferrari drivers deliver disappointing verdict on much-hyped United States GP upgrade

Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have played down expectations regarding the team's new upgrade package at the United States Grand Prix. Ahead of the race at the Circuit of the Americas, Ferrari introduced modified sidepods, bodywork, and a new floor to reduce drag. However, Leclerc called the changes overhyped and merely a small step forward, while Hamilton described them as very small and estimated they offer less than a tenth of a second in lap time.

Despite downplaying the package's magnitude, Leclerc noted that tight margins among the top four teams mean minor gains can still shift the competitive order. During the opening practice session in Austin, Leclerc led Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.084 seconds, while Hamilton finished sixth in the older car configuration. Ferrari currently sits second in the constructors' championship with 444 points, trailing Mercedes by 134 points.