Leclerc foresees Spanish GP as potential ‘turning point’ for Ferrari

Charles Leclerc is eyeing a potential game-changer for Ferrari’s 2025 campaign, pinning his hopes on a new front wing set to debut at the Spanish Grand Prix at the end of May.

After securing his first podium of the season with a hard-fought third place in Jeddah, Leclerc acknowledged Ferrari’s struggles against McLaren and Red Bull, the front-runners in Saudi Arabia last weekend.

Yet, he sees the upcoming race in Barcelona as a potential “turning point”, driven by a redesigned front wing tailored to meet stricter the FIA’s stricter anti-flex regulations.

With Ferrari’s SF-25 lagging in raw performance, Leclerc’s optimism hinges on the upgrade unlocking the speed needed to challenge the Scuderia’s closest rivals.

“I think we are behind in terms of actual performance of the car,” the Monegasque explained in Jeddah. “We are behind McLaren and Red Bull, for sure, behind Mercedes I believe also.

“On one hand, I’ve gone in the direction that I’ve been speaking of in the last two or three weekends and I feel like I’ve never been as much at ease with the car than I’ve been at the moment.

“So we are extracting the maximum out of the car.

“We just need a better car. And I think a turning point for the season will be in Barcelona, with a new front wing, I hope it can play a little in our favour.”

Navigating Stricter FIA Tests

The FIA’s decision to introduce tougher front wing stiffness checks in Barcelona adds a layer of complexity to Ferrari’s ambitions.

Announced before the season, these tests aim to curb excessive flexing in front wings, a design trend that many believe has allowed McLaren and potentially others to gain an aerodynamic advantage, particularly in high-speed corners.

The new regulations will enforce stricter deflection limits under load, ensuring compliance through enhanced scrutineering processes.

For Ferrari, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The team’s engineers have been working flat-out to develop a front wing that not only passes the FIA’s rigorous tests but also delivers a significant performance boost.

Leclerc’s confidence suggests Ferrari is banking on this upgrade to close the gap, particularly in downforce and tyre management, areas where the SF-25 has struggled against its rivals.

Maximizing the Present, Eyeing the Future

Leclerc’s podium in Jeddah, where he edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere second, was a testament to Ferrari’s ability to extract every ounce of performance from its current package.

Reflecting on the race, Leclerc praised the team’s flawless execution.

• Read also: Piastri dismisses Horner’s Barcelona flexi-wing warning

“I think, honestly, we did the perfect race,” he told the official F1 channel. “Today I don’t feel like there was anything more on the table. Every lap was really, really good.

“There were no mistakes. Strategy, perfect. Pit stop, again, perfect: we don’t talk much about our pit stops because whenever they go wrong, we obviously speak about it because you can lose a race with it, but the mechanics are doing an incredible job.

“I think we have been dominating the pit stop battle since the beginning of the season, and that’s thanks to the hard work they’ve done. But overall it’s been the perfect race and today I couldn’t do anything more than a P3.”

While Leclerc celebrates the team’s operational excellence, his focus remains on the bigger picture. The new front wing, designed to comply with the FIA’s stringent tests, could redefine Ferrari’s season.

As the championship battle intensifies, the eight-time Grand Prix winner’s blend of realism and hope underscores his belief that Barcelona could mark the moment Ferrari roars back into contention, ready to take the fight to the top.

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