Charles Leclerc ended the 2024 Components 1 season as one of many strongest performers on the grid, exhibiting top-tier type and positioning himself as a severe contender heading into the brand new yr. Nonetheless, the early races of 2025 have painted a really totally different image. Regardless of excessive expectations, the Monegasque driver has been unable to keep up the momentum that outlined the top of his earlier marketing campaign.
On the season finale in Abu Dhabi final yr, Charles Leclerc and then-teammate Carlos Sainz had been inside hanging distance of securing Ferrari’s first Constructors’ Championship title since 2008. Leclerc delivered one in every of his most spectacular drives in Components 1, climbing from the again of the grid to complete on the rostrum. But, it was Lando Norris’ triumph that finally denied Ferrari the championship, leaving the Scuderia and its followers dissatisfied however hopeful.
With Lewis Hamilton now alongside him in crimson, Charles Leclerc entered the 2025 season optimistic that Ferrari might construct on their late-season type and shut the remaining hole to McLaren. Nonetheless, these hopes started to fade early. Regardless of promising indicators throughout pre-season testing, Ferrari’s efficiency shortly regressed when racing started in Australia, and their standing because the second-best group was quickly in query. The scenario deteriorated additional in China, the place a double disqualification marked the low level of the marketing campaign to date. After 4 rounds, Ferrari languishes in fourth place within the standings, trailing McLaren by almost 100 factors.
Even when the Maranello group confirmed glimpses of potential in Bahrain—the place each the Monegasque and the Briton achieved their greatest outcomes of the season—the general temper within the camp remained subdued. Charles Leclerc, particularly, expressed issues following the race, revealing rising dissatisfaction with Ferrari’s automobile improvement and improve schedule.
Talking on The Race F1 Podcast, journalist Jon Noble defined that Ferrari could have already reached the higher restrict of their automobile’s present capabilities. He recounted a post-race dialogue with Leclerc wherein the motive force shared his view that Ferrari’s race technique in Bahrain, whereas showing aggressive as a result of a tyre offset, masked the automobile’s elementary shortcomings. Based on Charles Leclerc, the SF-25 merely lacks the tempo to battle constantly on the entrance and stays removed from matching McLaren’s efficiency, particularly in tyre administration and uncooked velocity.
Ferrari’s strategic transfer throughout the Bahrain GP—using a unique tyre method and pitting underneath the security automobile—initially hinted at the opportunity of a stronger end. Nonetheless, a scarcity of obtainable medium tyres compelled the group to change to the onerous compound for the ultimate stint, which considerably restricted their competitiveness. Leclerc, somewhat than being inspired by the consequence, considered the tyre offset as deceptive and made it clear that the automobile’s efficiency deficit stays vital.
When requested in regards to the timeline for upgrades, the Monegasque driver reportedly expressed frustration, noting that Ferrari’s deliberate enhancements wouldn’t arrive quickly sufficient to alter their fortunes within the quick time period. His response underscored the rising hole between expectations and actuality for the Italian group.
The beginning of the 2025 Components 1 season has been significantly disheartening for Charles Leclerc when in comparison with his earlier years at Ferrari. Getting into the brand new season, he had each cause to consider he might problem not solely the McLaren duo but in addition reigning champion Max Verstappen. Nonetheless, these ambitions have but to materialize, and for the primary time since 2021, Ferrari has didn’t safe a single podium end within the first 4 races of the F1 marketing campaign.
The distinction between Charles Leclerc’s dominant finish to 2024 and his present struggles is stark. Ferrari’s lack of ability to develop shortly sufficient and ship the upgrades required to compete on the entrance has left their lead driver disillusioned. Because the championship begins to slide farther from their grasp, it’s clear that the Scuderia should act swiftly if they’re to get well—and in the event that they want to hold the Monegasque’s religion in the long run.
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