Leclerc’s Ferrari dream: A title, ‘no matter how long it takes’

Charles Leclerc has once again pledged his loyalty to Ferrari, making clear that his dream of winning a Formula 1 world championship in red remains as strong as ever – and knows no time limit.

The Monegasque driver, a beacon of hope for the Tifosi since joining the Scuderia in 2019, remains steadfast in his mission despite a challenging 2025 season that has yet to yield a single Grand Prix victory for Ferrari’s SF-25 car.

Speaking to reporters in Baku on Thursday, Leclerc doubled down on his commitment to his beloved team, brushing aside any doubts over his future.

“Because I love this team very much, I think that’s the answer,” he said. “I’ve always loved Ferrari and that’s where I draw my motivation from, because I want to bring back Ferrari to the top, no matter how long it takes.

“I’ll do absolutely everything until I stop believing in the project, but at the moment I’m fully into it, I’m fully working on it and that’s what motivates me.”

Battling Through a Tough 2025 Season

Ferrari’s 2025 campaign has been a tough pill to swallow. The SF-25, hoped to be a championship contender, has left Ferrari as the only top-four team in the constructors’ championship without a victory this year.

“Of course that doesn’t erase the disappointment that I had at the beginning of the season when I saw that we were quite a few steps behind McLaren,” Leclerc admitted.

“But then you reset and you find your motivation in other goals, in other targets, which is now to hopefully get a win this year.”

Despite the frustration, Leclerc has embraced the challenge.

“It’s underwhelming compared to where we wanted to be, but it’s a situation we are in and as a driver I’ve got to make the best out of this situation, not only for the team but also for myself,” he added.

“I’m very competitive as well so the fact that we’ve got two cars is also something that pushes me to keep being at the top of my game and to keep improving.”

Experience, Perspective, and Pressure in Red

Ferrari’s struggles have inevitably sparked speculation, particularly around team principal Frédéric Vasseur’s position.

But for Leclerc, the lessons learned since joining Ferrari in 2019 have given him a new perspective on how to handle the unique scrutiny that comes with driving in red.

“This is what I’ve been doing since I started with the team,” he reflected.

“Obviously 2019 was a little bit more difficult because I was young, everything was new… and there was also a lot of hype on just me… being in red for my second year in Formula 1 was just very special.

“But since then it’s important to do a step back and to not always react on emotions and on what’s being said around.

“I think it’s very important to just stay focused and on that I think we are doing a good job - but not good enough, because we must be back winning soon.”

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For Leclerc, the long game is clear. The reset that comes with Formula 1’s next major regulation shift in 2026 could present Ferrari with its best chance in years to fight at the very front. Until then, the 26-year-old insists his motivation will not waver.

He’s not just driving for podiums or points – he’s driving to restore Ferrari’s legacy. And as he’s made clear, that mission is non-negotiable: he will fight to bring the world championship back to Maranello, “no matter how long it takes.”

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