Charles Leclerc insists Ferrari must battle hard in 2025 while carefully preparing for the sweeping 2026 Formula 1 regulation changes.
Charles Leclerc is urging Ferrari to stay fully committed to the 2025 Formula 1 season, even as the team begins preparing for the major regulation changes coming in 2026. The Monegasque driver understands the disappointment of missed opportunities early in the year but believes it is far too soon for Ferrari to shift focus.
“For it to be a missed opportunity, there would have to be an opportunity in the first place” Leclerc explained. “Right now, we are not where we want to be but the season is still long. We have to keep fighting until the very end.”
Leclerc emphasized that Ferrari does not have to choose between competing now and developing for the future. “People often say we should immediately switch to next year’s car” he said. “But with how F1 teams are structured today, we can work on both at the same time. It does not have to be all or nothing.”
Reflecting on Ferrari’s early struggles with the SF-25, Leclerc said the team is making steady progress. “We did not have the start to the season we were dreaming of but we are getting there step by step. Early on, the car was very tricky to drive. The balance was wide open.”
“We struggled a lot with understeer in the middle of corners. We are starting to fix that now but it means the car has become more delicate to handle. Personally, that suits me well. In terms of balance, we are reaching the sweet spot. What we are missing now is grip, especially at low and medium speeds. At high speeds, we are not bad.”
Ferrari has not claimed a Formula 1 title since winning the constructors championship in 2008. Leclerc made it clear that Ferrari will not fully pivot to 2026 development until it is mathematically impossible to fight for this year’s championship.
“It is not about abandoning one season for the other” Leclerc said. “We are trying to get the best of both worlds and we will see where it leads us. As soon as the title fight becomes out of reach, it will probably make sense to shift more focus towards 2026.”
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Leclerc Urges Ferrari to Keep Fighting While Eyeing 2026 Shift
Leclerc Urges Ferrari to Keep Fighting While Eyeing 2026 Shift
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