Charles Leclerc says Ferrari cannot afford a slow start when Formula 1’s next regulation era begins in 2026 if it ambitions to break its long title drought.
Despite a challenging – and so far winless – 2025 campaign that has left Ferrari trailing a dominant McLaren by 299 points in the Constructors’ standings ahead of the sport’s summer break, Leclerc remains optimistic about the team’s prospects under team principal Fred Vasseur.
But while his faith in the Scuderia remains unshaken, with team principal Fred Vasseur steering the squad “in the right direction”, the Monegasque believes that only a strong launch in 2026 will allow the Italian outfit to contend for title glory.
“Fred is definitely part of it, but the biggest part is to see how the team works,” Leclerc told reporters when asked about his positive view of the future, quoted by Motorsport Week. “I’m sure we are working in the right direction.
“Next year will be a big turning point for us as it will be a new era of cars. Whenever you start a new era, if you are not starting it on the right foot, it’s always more difficult to come back because other teams are also pushing for upgrades.
“To close the gap is very difficult. We’ll have to start that on the right foot and then we’ll see. For now, I’m fully dedicated to try and make Ferrari great again and to win races again.”
Lessons From a Tricky 2025
Leclerc says one positive this season has been Ferrari’s quick reaction to fix the SF-25’s most punishing traits through mid-season upgrades.
“The upgrades go in the right direction of making the life of the drivers a little bit easier because at the beginning of the season, it was extremely difficult,” he explained.
“We had to set up the car in very extreme ways, and that made us also do more mistakes.
“Now we are a bit more in a reasonable window, which helps us to extract the maximum out of the car. It’s good that we see the result.”
Those improvements have allowed Leclerc to consistently outperform new teammate Lewis Hamilton, claiming all five of Ferrari’s podiums so far this year.
Satisfied, But Still Hungry
Despite Ferrari’s ongoing wait for a win, Leclerc says his personal performance level is where it should be – with a few exceptions.
“In terms of my own performance, I’m very happy with the way I perform,” he said. “The best moment as a driver, no, because I want to win. So, as my own performance, I’m really happy.
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“You always want to improve and obviously, like Silverstone, for example, was a very poor weekend from my side. Those weekends you want to have the least possible in a season.
“Apart from that, I’m very satisfied. That is a good thing.”
With the 2026 rules reset looming, Leclerc’s message is clear – Ferrari must seize the opportunity from day one, or risk watching another championship slip away.
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