Charles Leclerc remains focused on his 2025 title ambitions, choosing not to offer advice to Lewis Hamilton amid his ongoing frustration with qualifying difficulties this season.
Like Red Bull, McLaren, or Mercedes F1, Ferrari’s form has been highly erratic and inconsistent this year.
The team went through a real slump after Barcelona, but has bounced back since the summer break, with Charles Leclerc’s win at Monza being a standout moment.
The Monegasque admitted to The Race that he had moments of doubt about his team’s form. Indeed, there was no certainty Ferrari would regularly return to podium contention.
“It’s been tough to get back to our best.”
“There have been highs and lows, but the highs were very high, and the lows very low.”
“Yes, sometimes seasons can be quite frustrating because you do a great job, but it seems normal because you’re only fifth or sixth, as the car just isn’t good enough.”
“But I feel like I’m improving race by race, season by season. I’d be lying if I said you always feel confident the pace will return during those moments.”
“Whenever you have a tough race, you try to analyze it, and as soon as you find the cause, you’re sure the pace will come back to your team.”
“But you always want to see, the next time you’re on track, that things are heading in the right direction and you’re back on the right pace.”
Charles Leclerc’s qualifying was hampered earlier in the year by tire heating issues, particularly in Australia and Suzuka.
“In fact, I had forgotten about that!”
“Sometimes the pace was there, and the lap was really, really good, but for one reason or another, with the available grip, the lap time just wasn’t good. It was very frustrating.”
“However, I’ve worked on it a lot, and from that point, it improved. But it’s true that if there’s a bit less sun, or just a cloud passing over the track, it makes a huge difference for the tires. You have to constantly adjust to even the slightest change in conditions, which isn’t easy.”
Overall, team performance has been very inconsistent: McLaren F1 had to wait until Miami to take off, while Red Bull’s performance plummeted!
“Aside from McLaren recently, there have been ups and downs. Sometimes you see Mercedes putting in great performances, then struggling. We too have had very strong performances at times, and other times we’ve struggled. You can also see Red Bull, which has been very strong for many years, now facing a bit more difficulty.”
“This generation of cars is much harder to understand, and even the smallest detail can have a big impact, making a significant difference. The fact that we’re so close to each other means any mistake is much more costly compared to previous car generations.”
The title next year?
For now, Ferrari has made progress, particularly with the updates brought at Monza. The technical team lost Enrico Cardile (who moved to Aston Martin F1) but has also been strengthened by Loïc Serra.
“We are seeing a lot of progress. We just need time to bring these updates to the car,” says Charles Leclerc.
If Ferrari makes enough progress by the end of the season, will it be realistic to aim for the title next year, during a period of regulatory stability?
“Yes, it will be realistic… ah, that’s going to make headlines!”
“Obviously, it’s a continuous process that keeps evolving, and the goal is to always improve. So, I’d say 2025 will be good, 2026 will be better, and 2027 even better as we optimize everything. No team declines from one year to the next. What matters is the progression of others.”
“But on our side, I have no doubt we’ll take a step forward next year and another the year after.”
Leclerc has no advice for Lewis Hamilton
Next year, Charles Leclerc will first have to beat his new teammate if he hopes for a title shot. And it won’t be just any teammate—it will be Lewis Hamilton.
Is Leclerc anxious about teaming up with him?
“I’ll be very curious to see what he’s done right throughout his career to achieve all the success he’s had.”
“He has very few weaknesses—in fact, I don’t know what Lewis’ weaknesses are. He’s an incredibly strong driver, always consistent, super fast, super reliable.”
“It will be very interesting for me to learn from Lewis and show what I’m capable of in the same car as him. Both of these things motivate me a lot.”
“It’s cool, we have a very good relationship, and I’m sure it will always be that way.”
Would he have preferred to have a younger driver alongside him? To truly be Ferrari’s number one?
“Since I’ve been in Formula 1, I’ve been very lucky.”
“Instead of wishing for a number two driver as a teammate, I’ve always thought it’s better to have the best. I’ve had very, very fast teammates who pushed me forward, and with Lewis, I’ll learn a lot as well.”
Finally, does Charles Leclerc have any advice for Lewis Hamilton before his arrival at Maranello?
“Lewis is still incredibly fast. He’s still Lewis Hamilton. So, I don’t think he needs any advice from me!”
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Leclerc Aims for 2025 Triumph, No Tips for Hamilton Leclerc Aims for 2025 Triumph, No Tips for Hamilton. f1 2024 Leclerc Aims for 2025 Triumph, No Tips for Hamilton
