According to Charles Leclerc, his deep affection for the renowned Scuderia Ferrari is the sole reason he’s determined to secure a Formula 1 world championship with them, regardless of the timeline involved.
The 27-year-old’s journey with Ferrari began in 2016 when he joined their academy. Three years later, he was elevated to their F1 team. Since then, he has achieved eight grand prix victories and a notable second-place finish in the overall standings.
Given Leclerc’s undeniable talent, his lack of a world championship title is seen as a significant gap in his achievements. He has consistently outperformed his teammates in all but one of his years with Ferrari and has a history of winning titles at the junior level.
The primary challenge has been the Italian team’s difficulty in providing him with a car capable of competing for a championship, especially this season. Leclerc currently holds fifth place in the standings, trailing leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren by 161 points.
When questioned about what prevents him from exploring opportunities with other teams during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, Leclerc responded: “My profound love for this team is the reason. It’s quite simple.”
“I’ve always been passionate about Ferrari, and that’s where my drive comes from. I’m committed to bringing Ferrari back to the forefront, no matter the duration.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
“I’ll give it my all until I lose faith in the project, but for now, I’m completely invested, working hard, and that’s what keeps me going.”
“Certainly, the disappointment was there at the start of the season when it became clear we were lagging behind McLaren. But then you refocus and find motivation in different objectives, like aiming for a win this year.”
“It’s not as grand as our initial ambitions, but we have to deal with the situation. As a driver, I need to make the most of it, not just for the team, but for my own sake as well. I’m very competitive, and the presence of two competitive cars motivates me to stay on top of my game and keep improving.”
The historical significance and the fervent support of the tifosi often place higher expectations on Ferrari than any other team. This was especially evident this year when there were hopes of surpassing McLaren’s runner-up position from the previous year.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t materialized, as neither Leclerc nor his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, have secured a grand prix victory yet. The Monegasque driver acknowledged the need to filter out external pressures to achieve success.
“I’ve been doing this since I joined the team,” Leclerc stated. “2019 was particularly challenging because I was young, everything felt new… and there was a lot of excitement around me… representing Ferrari in my second year in Formula 1 was truly special.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Jayce Illman / Getty Images
“Since then, it’s become essential to take a step back and avoid reacting impulsively to emotions and external opinions.”
“It’s vital to maintain focus, and I believe we are progressing well in that regard – although not sufficiently, as we must strive to win again soon.”
The 2026 season brings a new chance to contend, given the comprehensive regulation adjustments, with intentions to make the cars lighter and narrower, and with a greater emphasis on electric energy.
Leclerc has shown skepticism regarding the modifications; however, subsequent to testing the 2026 car on the simulator, his perception has slightly shifted.
“The speed of enhancement is notably commendable,” he remarked. “I believe all the teams are achieving substantial improvements each week, so since I last expressed my opinion [on the regulation changes], things have definitely improved, which is encouraging.”
“Nevertheless, I still believe it will involve significant changes, and certain aspects will likely be challenging to alter. We’ll need to adjust to these new cars, and the dynamics of racing will also be quite complex.”
“But I welcome it as a challenge. I am certain that if we achieve victory, I’ll fully support the regulations. If not, the next few years might be quite lengthy [until the subsequent changes].”
