VASSEUR ADMITS TO 'FRUSTRATION' AS 'PACE WAS THERE' TO WIN

Ferrari had race-winning pace all weekend in Austin but left second-guessing a qualifying session that cost them a shot at victory. Charles Leclerc finished P2 behind Kimi Antonelli after climbing from fourth on the grid, and Fred Vasseur admits the frustration is real — Leclerc was targeting P1 from lap one.

Saturday's Q3 was a disaster for nearly everyone. Only Antonelli improved on his Q2 time; the rest of the top eight, including both Ferraris, went backwards. Leclerc's fastest lap came a session too early. The race itself was clean: Ferrari's aggressive two-stop strategy paid off, and the SF-26 had genuine winning speed.

But the margins have collapsed. A gust of wind or a slide on the out-lap costs you four grid spots. Vasseur calls the frustration "good" — it means Ferrari expects wins, not podiums. Mexico's up next. Nail qualifying or waste another fast car.