Ferrari Components 1 driver Charles Leclerc says it’s “now or by no means’ for the Italian crew to battle for championships beneath the all-new regulation modifications for 2026.
Ferrari slipped from second to fourth this 12 months after it missed the mark firstly of the 2025 marketing campaign, after which determined to focus all of its aero assets on subsequent 12 months’s automobile from April onwards.
The tip end result was a irritating marketing campaign with none grand prix wins for Leclerc and newcomer Lewis Hamilton, who ended the 12 months with three consecutive Q1 exits.
Because the crew and its chief Fred Vasseur got here beneath rising scrutiny in Italy over the season, Leclerc is beneath no phantasm that the alternatives Ferrari has made imply the strain is on beneath the brand new ruleset, particularly because the Monegasque has been patiently ready for a championship-winning automobile since 2019.
When requested if he nonetheless believes the Scuderia can present him with that, Leclerc replied: “I do, and subsequent 12 months might be a vital 12 months.
“The entire crew is massively motivated for subsequent 12 months, as a result of it is such a giant change, an enormous alternative to point out what Ferrari is able to. It is now or by no means, so I actually hope that we’ll begin this new period on the fitting foot, as a result of it is essential for the 4 years after.”
“By race six or seven, I believe we’ll have a good suggestion of who’re the groups that might be dominating for the 4 years after.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Picture by: Erik Junius
Commenting on his winless season, he stated: “It is robust, whether or not it is the hardest or not, I do not know. I are likely to neglect these unfavourable feelings as rapidly as doable, so I do not know if it is the worst one, however for certain it is a very disappointing one.”
Alongside George Russell, who’s in an identical place at Mercedes, Leclerc has been hailed as one of many standout drivers of 2025, excluding the three title protagonists, because the pair completed fourth and fifth respectively.
“I fee my season truly excessive,” Leclerc stated final month on the las Vegas Grand Prix. “I believe I’ve carried out a very good job. However once more, there are all the time issues that you are able to do higher.
“I believe the primary 12 months it was very clear what my weaknesses had been, however you then work on them and also you all the time deal with smaller and smaller particulars. And now it is smaller particulars, however it nonetheless makes the distinction. So that is what I’ll deal with.”
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