Can Ferrari's Charles Leclerc upset the McLaren's 'papaya power' in Las Vegas?

Charles Leclerc delivered a reminder of Ferrari’s lingering bite under the neon glare of Las Vegas, posting strong times across both practice sessions and signalling that the Scuderia may not be ready to quietly bow out of a disappointing season.

While McLaren’s “Papaya power” and Red Bull’s late-season resurgence have dominated the title conversation, Leclerc’s pace suggested Ferrari could still throw a wrench into the championship fight if circumstances swing their way.

Leclerc topped FP1 in Vegas with a 1:34.802, edging out Williams’ Alexander Albon by 0.166 seconds. Albon’s impressive 1:34.968 put him second, while Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli took third with a 1:35.015, all on a green, slippery circuit that punished mistakes and rewarded confidence.

The session belonged to Leclerc, though; his early pace established a benchmark even the front-runners had to take seriously. FP2 shifted the momentum towards McLaren, with Lando Norris flashing the power that has kept him in the title hunt. Norris led the session with a 1:33.602, narrowly ahead of Antonelli’s 1:33.631, while Leclerc slotted into third with a 1:33.684, just 0.082 seconds off the top.

The second session was twice interrupted by red flags due to a loose manhole cover, limiting long-run analysis, but Leclerc’s consistency across both sessions suggested Ferrari have unlocked a car capable of competing at a circuit that rewards top-speed efficiency and tyre management.

It comes in a season where Ferrari have struggled to find momentum. Their title hopes evaporated early as McLaren surged forward with aerodynamic upgrades and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen refused to fade.

The Scuderia’s campaign has instead been marked by set-up inconsistencies, race-pace deficits and strategy miscalculations, issues that have left them firmly out of the championship conversation.

Yet, Las Vegas offers a high-speed street layout where Ferrari’s strengths can be exploited and their weaknesses minimised.

The SF-25 has shown flashes of performance on smoother circuits requiring strong traction and low-drag efficiency, and the evolving Nevada asphalt appears to suit Ferrari better than recent venues.

With only a handful of races left, Ferrari’s focus has shifted from championship aspirations to salvaging pride and securing a much-needed victory. Leclerc’s form in practice hints at a genuine opportunity to disrupt the McLaren-Red Bull duel at the front, especially if Ferrari can maintain tyre life in the cool desert night conditions.

For now, McLaren may hold the upper hand in race simulations, and Red Bull are never to be counted out. But Leclerc’s strong opening statement in Las Vegas raises a compelling question: if Ferrari play their cards right, could the city of luck finally deal them a winning hand?