Charles Leclerc has considerably flown beneath the radar through the 2025 System 1 season, and never solely via any fault of his personal.
A lot of the highlight at Ferrari has naturally been mounted on the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, with the seven-time world champion in search of to finish the Scuderia’s extended championship drought. Hamilton’s difficult begin to life in Maranello has solely amplified consideration on his facet of the storage, leaving Leclerc working with far much less public scrutiny.
Regardless of Hamilton’s struggles, he managed to ship Ferrari’s standout second to date by securing a Dash Race victory in China. But, in relation to the driving force who seems most comfortable with the SF-25, it’s clearly Charles Leclerc.
Pre-season testing noticed Charles Leclerc grappling with the automobile’s steadiness, sparking optimism amongst followers that Hamilton may shortly assert himself as Ferrari’s new group chief. Nevertheless, via the early a part of the marketing campaign, Charles Leclerc has but to be outqualified by Lewis Hamilton for a Grand Prix and has constantly completed forward of him over full race distances.
The turning level appeared to reach at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the place Leclerc earned Ferrari’s first Grand Prix podium of 2025. Nonetheless, regardless of the promising consequence, the Monegasque driver stays dissatisfied with sure points of the SF-25’s behaviour on monitor.
Charles Leclerc Continues to Request Extra Entrance Wing Adjustment on 2025 Ferrari F1 Automotive
Motorsport journalist Roberto Chinchero not too long ago make clear Leclerc’s scenario whereas talking on the James Allen on F1 Podcast.
Chinchero noticed that when Leclerc arrived on the media pen following the race, his facial features was telling. He prompt that whereas Leclerc appeared happy together with his personal efficiency and the setup selections made within the early a part of the season, there was an underlying frustration. In accordance with Chinchero, Charles Leclerc’s good execution throughout races was not sufficient to succeed in the utmost potential he believed the automobile ought to supply.
The journalist identified that in latest occasions, Charles Leclerc repeatedly requested extra entrance wing changes every time he entered the pits, pushing the bounds of the automobile’s front-end setup. Given Charles Leclerc’s pure desire for a powerful, responsive entrance finish, this behaviour was comprehensible. Nevertheless, regardless of his spectacular driving, there remained a basic shortfall within the automobile’s total efficiency.
Chinchero emphasised that Charles Leclerc was dealing with the SF-25 exceptionally properly however was clearly pissed off by the automobile’s lack of ability to problem for greater than third place at greatest.
Charles Leclerc Highlights Ferrari’s Subsequent Space of Focus After Flooring Improve Success
Ferrari launched a brand new flooring specification on the Bahrain Grand Prix, a improvement that allowed each drivers to safe their greatest finishes of the season to date, with Leclerc constructing additional momentum with a podium in Jeddah.
Famend for setting extraordinarily excessive requirements, Charles Leclerc continues to bolster his fame as one of many most interesting drivers but to win a world title — a report he’s undoubtedly decided to keep away from carrying into the twilight of his profession.
After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc mirrored on Ferrari’s weekend, noting that that they had maximised their potential in each space. He praised the group’s flawless execution in technique and pit stops, including that the mechanics had labored tirelessly to realize such efficiency ranges, one thing he felt immensely pleased with.
Wanting forward, Charles Leclerc pinpointed qualifying as Ferrari’s subsequent space for enchancment. He defined that whereas sector one had been their weak level throughout qualifying in Jeddah, it become one among their strengths through the race. This, he prompt, was an indication that additional steadiness changes might unlock much more tempo, and it might be the first focus transferring ahead.
Steadiness has turn into some of the generally mentioned points throughout the System 1 paddock in 2025. It has troubled front-runners like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, whereas backmarkers equivalent to Gabriel Bortoleto have humorously dismissed the concept that groups like Sauber have even discovered a constant efficiency window.
If the Monegasque and Ferrari can fine-tune that vital steadiness within the coming rounds, it might lastly ignite Charles Leclerc’s championship bid for 2025 — and maybe put an finish to his fixed mid-race pleas for extra entrance wing changes over group radio.