Charles Leclerc has considerably flown below the radar throughout the 2025 System 1 season, and never totally by way of 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 looking for to finish the Scuderia’s extended championship drought. Hamilton’s difficult begin to life in Maranello has solely amplified consideration on his aspect 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 thus far by securing a Dash Race victory in China. But, in terms of the motive 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 would possibly shortly assert himself as Ferrari’s new staff chief. Nonetheless, by way of the early a part of the marketing campaign, Charles Leclerc has but to be outqualified by Lewis Hamilton for a Grand Prix and has persistently 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 outcome, the Monegasque driver stays dissatisfied with sure facets 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 state of affairs 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 recommended that whereas Leclerc appeared happy along with his personal efficiency and the setup selections made within the early a part of the season, there was an underlying frustration. In line 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 current occasions, Charles Leclerc repeatedly requested extra entrance wing changes every time he entered the pits, pushing the boundaries of the automobile’s front-end setup. Given Charles Leclerc’s pure choice for a robust, responsive entrance finish, this behaviour was comprehensible. Nonetheless, regardless of his spectacular driving, there remained a basic shortfall within the automobile’s general efficiency.
Chinchero emphasised that Charles Leclerc was dealing with the SF-25 exceptionally effectively however was clearly pissed off by the automobile’s incapability to problem for greater than third place at finest.
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 growth that allowed each drivers to safe their finest finishes of the season thus far, 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 staff’s flawless execution in technique and pit stops, including that the mechanics had labored tirelessly to attain 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 certainly one of their strengths throughout the race. This, he recommended, was an indication that additional steadiness changes might unlock much more tempo, and it could be the first focus transferring ahead.
Stability has change into probably the most generally mentioned points throughout the System 1 paddock in 2025. It has troubled front-runners like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, whereas backmarkers resembling Gabriel Bortoleto have humorously dismissed the concept groups like Sauber have even discovered a constant efficiency window.
If the Monegasque and Ferrari can fine-tune that crucial 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 staff radio.