Charles Leclerc breaks down the mindset shift and technical changes needed to keep Ferrari’s aggressive new car under control.
Charles Leclerc has opened up about how much he’s had to adapt his driving style this season to handle the unique demands of Ferrari’s latest Formula 1 car, the SF-25. The car’s radical shift to pull-rod front suspension has changed its behavior significantly, pushing Leclerc to rethink how he approaches each lap.
“It’s always tricky to compare how different drivers feel in the car,” Leclerc explained. “If you’re not comfortable, you’ll always struggle more than someone else and it becomes impossible to match their pace.”
“For me, this season has brought some pretty big changes in terms of how I drive. We’ve been running with some extreme setups to squeeze more performance out of the car, so naturally that’s forced me to adjust a lot in how I approach things.”
Even with the changes, Leclerc admits he might not fully grasp just how different his driving has become. “I feel like I’m driving differently, but it’s also just what the car demands now. The SF-25 needs very specific setups and a unique approach behind the wheel.”
The car is known to be difficult to manage, especially when trying to reach its optimal performance window. “To get the most out of it, you have to push it right to the edge,” he said. “That makes it tough to drive, especially in qualifying. But we’re starting to get the hang of it and I’m confident we’re heading in the right direction. We’ll get a clearer picture as the weekend unfolds.”
Qualifying remains one of the biggest challenges with this car. “I won’t go into the technical details, but the car becomes really sharp and sensitive near the limit. That makes it a handful to drive in quali,” he said. “But that’s something I’ve always enjoyed. I like that kind of challenge.”
Still, Leclerc knows it takes time to reset everything around the car to match this new direction. “It’s a full process. It takes several races to get everything aligned. The last few weekends have paid off, but that doesn’t guarantee it’ll work every time. We need to stay flexible and be ready to step back if needed.”
Right now, the Monegasque driver is happy with how things are evolving. “From my side, I really like the direction we’re taking. We’re learning a lot and seeing real benefits.”
Leclerc also expressed his support for Lewis Hamilton, who is going through his own adaptation period after joining a new team. “It’s always hard when you switch teams. You have to learn new systems, new ways of working, and a new car,” he said. “Honestly, I’m focused on getting the most out of myself and the car. That’s already a huge task. But I’m sure Lewis will figure it out. He just won in China, which shows what he’s still capable of.”
“It’s great to have him in the team. He’s challenging the way we’ve done things for years and bringing fresh ideas. We’re already learning a lot from him.”
Looking ahead to the Sprint weekend, Leclerc is hopeful Ferrari can repeat their strong showing from China. “I don’t think the fuel load played much of a role in our performance there. The Sprint format just opens the door to opportunities because you only have one session to get it right. If you do, you can gain a lot. If you miss it, it’s costly.”
“Lewis nailed it in China. He got everything right from the start, while others struggled. For us, it didn’t come together as well in regular qualifying. But we’ve put in a lot of simulator work to be sharp from the first session this time. That’s the goal for every team.”
“If we can do that better than the rest, then yeah, we’ve got a real shot at repeating our China result. It’s a bit harder to beat McLaren over a standard race weekend right now, but the Sprint might give us that edge.”
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Inside Leclerc’s Driving Overhaul for the SF-25 Beast
Inside Leclerc’s Driving Overhaul for the SF-25 Beast
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