Vasseur blames tyre temperatures for Ferrari's Brazil pace swings

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has put the team's inconsistent pace at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix down to tyre temperature problems in changeable conditions. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished eighth and ninth respectively, ending what had been a recent resurgence for the team at Interlagos.

Both drivers suffered from opposite tyre issues. Hamilton, who started from the back after a power unit change, made up 11 places on the opening lap but then dropped down the order with overheating rear intermediates. Leclerc struggled to generate enough temperature in his soft tyres after switching to slicks once the track dried.

Vasseur said that tyre sensitivity, particularly in low ambient temperatures, can cancel out gains from upgrades, adding that the straight-line speed deficit seen throughout 2026 compounded the problems in Brazil.