Leclerc credits ‘surprising’ SF-25 pace in clean air for Saudi podium

Charles Leclerc’s hard-fought third-place finish in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix marked Ferrari’s long-awaited return to the F1 podium, a result the Monegasque attributed in large part to his car’s “surprising” pace during a crucial stint in clean air.

In a race defined by tyre management, aerodynamic sensitivity, and late-race pressure from McLaren’s Lando Norris, Leclerc’s SF-25 came into its own just when it mattered most. And even he didn’t see it coming.

Leclerc’s post-race comments revealed a mix of satisfaction with the race’s execution and a clear-eyed focus on the work needed to elevate Ferrari’s performance further, especially in qualifying.

A Turnaround in Clean Air

Starting fourth on the grid, Leclerc held his position through the opening laps, trailing the leading trio of Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell.

However, his early stint on the medium rubber was marred by struggles behind Russell’s Mercedes, when he grappled with significant understeer. But the race’s dynamics shifted dramatically on lap 22 when the frontrunners pitted, handing Leclerc the lead in clean air.

“And to be honest, I was struggling a lot when I was behind George with the car balance, a lot of understeer, and I hate that,” Leclerc explained.

“The car just felt good. and as soon as he pitted, the front came alive and the car felt a lot better.

“So then I could manage the fronts a little bit better and the performance came much better once I was in free air.”

The Scuderia’ charger’s lap times surged, matching those of drivers on fresher tyres behind him, a development that caught even Leclerc off guard.

“I think we were all surprised by our pace in free air on the first stint,” he later admitted. “So that was really good.”

Strategic Brilliance Pays Off

Ferrari’s decision to extend Leclerc’s first stint on the medium compound proved pivotal. The fresher rubber during his second stint allowed him to capitalize on his pace, overtaking Russell after the pit cycle to secure third place.

“I feel like we’ve maximised absolutely everything we could have this weekend,” he assessed. “There wasn’t anything more, I think, in the car.

“Strategy was great. Pit stops have been great the whole season and also the whole last year as well. There wasn’t much more we could have done.”

Leclerc’s ability to storm past Russell underscored the car’s potential when conditions aligned, setting the stage for a thrilling defense against Norris in the closing laps.

Holding Off Norris in a Tense Finale

As the race neared its conclusion, Norris, on fresher mediums, began closing the gap to Leclerc, threatening Ferrari’s podium hopes. Leclerc, aware of the McLaren’s pace, anticipated a tight battle.

“I knew it was going to be tight,” he recalled. “He was very quick and I wasn’t worried. But I knew that it was going to be tight and I didn’t know what to expect with the traffic, especially.”

“At one point, I had to avoid, I think, [Gabriel] Bortoleto and I went in the marbles and I lost a lot of time. And Lando nearly got into my DRS range, which would have been a bit trickier than to keep him behind.”

Despite the pressure, Leclerc’s composure held firm. Norris stabilized at around 1.2 to 1.3 seconds behind for the final laps, unable to breach Leclerc’s DRS range.

“But then I think he got stuck around 1.2s, 1.3s for the last two or three laps,” Leclerc noted. “I was happy to keep that position and to have the first podium of the season for the team.”

Crossing the line with just over a second in hand, Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first podium of 2025, a milestone that carried immense weight for the team.

Qualifying Weakness Still Holding Ferrari Back

Despite the strong Sunday showing, Leclerc remains acutely aware that Ferrari must improve its one-lap pace if it hopes to compete for wins – especially against Red Bull and McLaren.

"I feel like we’ve maximised absolutely everything we could have this weekend," Leclerc said. "There wasn’t anything more, I think, in the car.

"I think we need to focus on qualifying because at the moment it’s been a very long time I haven’t been as happy with the car balance. And I feel very at ease with the car in a way that I know that I can extract the maximum out of the car more often than not."

"But unfortunately, the car potential is just not good enough to fight for better in qualifying. But in the race, I think the good car balance, yeah, had results."

• Read also: Hamilton fears long road ahead with Ferrari after ‘horrible’ Saudi GP

Ferrari’s surprisingly strong race pace came as a welcome revelation.

"I think we were all surprised by our pace in free air on the first stint. So that was really good. I think everything else was perfectly executed.

“Strategy was great. Pit stops have been great the whole season and also the whole last year as well. There wasn’t much more we could have done.”

With a podium now secured and the SF-25 showing flashes of race-day promise, Leclerc and Ferrari may finally have something solid to build on – if they can unlock that elusive single-lap pace.

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