Ferrari confirm ‘steering wheel problem’ as Leclerc retired from Las Vegas FP2
21st November 2025Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc retired late on in Free Practice 2 at the las Vegas Grand Prix and the team has confirmed it was a steering problem that struck late.
Feature image credit: Ferrari Media
Everything seemed to be going well for the Ferrari team on the opening day of the Las Vegas GP weekend after their drivers were criticised following the Brazilian Grand Prix, last time out.
Leclerc was the pacesetter in the opening practice hour, whilst Hamilton could only muster 11th best at the end of FP1. Whilst Hamilton was able to improve to 10th fastest in FP2, Leclerc could only best third before he was forced to retire out on track.
But, the session was red-flagged shortly after the halfway point due to a loose manhole cover reported by the Marshals. When the session resumed with six minutes remaining, Leclerc quickly pulled down an access road and retired from the session, before the next session-ending red flag.
He was advised not to shift due to something being ‘broke,’ pointing to a potential gearbox issue late on in the session. However, Ferrari have now confirmed the issue is a steering problem.
Lando Norris tops Las Vegas FP2 after red flag end due to maintenance
In their recap, the team said:
“The Scuderia Ferrari HP drivers completed a total of 98 laps on the first day of free practice, with Lewis running 43 and Charles 45, the Monegasque having to park his SF-25 in an escape road right at the end of the second hour with a steering wheel problem.”
Thanks to the loose manhole cover, both Hamilton and Leclerc were not able to put in a quick lap on the red-walled soft compound tyres before the two red flags came out at the end of the session.
The team confirmed that they were not able to check the tyre behaviour in race trim today and will be focusing that on that on Friday’s final practice session.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Lando Norris tops Las Vegas FP2 after red flag end due to maintenance
- Charles Leclerc tops first Las Vegas Grand Prix practice as turn 12 strikes many
- F1 teams bringing special liveries to Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Las Vegas GP Preview: Championship fight continues in Sin City ahead of final three races
- Weather Report: the latest forecast ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix
- FIA Commission Meeting: two-stops, testing restrictions and car liveries
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
