Leclerc doubts rivals will catch Red Bull before 2026

Charles Leclerc isn't optimistic on Ferrari or any other team's chances of challenging Red Bull for the world title in the next two seasons, given the Milton Keynes-based outfit's significant performance lead.

Last year, Red Bull was pressured by Ferrari in the first half of the season but eventually shook off the Scuderia's challenge to claim its fifth Constructors' title, with Max Verstappen securing his second Drivers' crown.

But this season, the bulls are in a league of their own, a country mile ahead of the opposition as they remain undefeated year-to-date.

While Mercedes has emerged as the second-best team on the grid at the mid-way point of the season, Leclerc finished third in Spa behind Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

When asked about the prospects of Red Bull's rivals catching up next season with the unassailable force at the head of the pack, Leclerc was hardly optimistic.

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"That’s what we are trying to work towards but, for sure, they have a really big margin," he told the media in Zandvoort on Thursday.

"It’s going to be very, very difficult to catch them before the change of regulations."

Formula 1 will introduce a new engine and chassis regulation package in 2026 that many teams hope will provide a reset of the current hierarchy.

But in the interim, Red Bull's advantage – especially in race trim – is here to stay reckons Leclerc.

"It’s different than in the past in the way that in qualifying we are all much closer than what we have seen in the past," Leclerc explained.

"Normally when we see a team dominating, it was qualifying and the race. But now, for some reason with Red Bull, it’s much more in the race than in qualifying.

"The gaps are much bigger in the race than in qualifying and that’s why we are all working towards our race pace, because Red Bull is just so far ahead.

"There’s still a lot of work to do. We have some developments in the next few races that can help us do a step forward.

But also with this car, we can have some unexpected surprises because they are such sensitive cars that a small change can have a big influence. And hopefully it will be the case for us."

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