Charles Leclerc ended the 2024 System 1 season as one of many strongest performers on the grid, exhibiting top-tier type and positioning himself as a critical 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 tip of his earlier marketing campaign.
On the season finale in Abu Dhabi final yr, Charles Leclerc and then-teammate Carlos Sainz had been inside putting distance of securing Ferrari’s first Constructors’ Championship title since 2008. Leclerc delivered one in every of his most spectacular drives in System 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 disenchanted 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 staff was quickly in query. The scenario deteriorated additional in China, the place a double disqualification marked the low level of the marketing campaign thus far. After 4 rounds, Ferrari languishes in fourth place within the standings, trailing McLaren by almost 100 factors.
Even when the Maranello staff 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 automotive improvement and improve schedule.
Talking on The Race F1 Podcast, journalist Jon Noble defined that Ferrari might have already reached the higher restrict of their automotive’s present capabilities. He recounted a post-race dialogue with Leclerc through which the driving force shared his view that Ferrari’s race technique in Bahrain, whereas showing aggressive resulting from a tyre offset, masked the automotive’s elementary shortcomings. In keeping with Charles Leclerc, the SF-25 merely lacks the tempo to struggle constantly on the entrance and stays removed from matching McLaren’s efficiency, particularly in tyre administration and uncooked pace.
Ferrari’s strategic transfer throughout the Bahrain GP—using a special tyre strategy and pitting below the security automotive—initially hinted at the opportunity of a stronger end. Nonetheless, an absence of obtainable medium tyres compelled the staff to change to the onerous compound for the ultimate stint, which considerably restricted their competitiveness. Leclerc, relatively than being inspired by the consequence, seen the tyre offset as deceptive and made it clear that the automotive’s efficiency deficit stays vital.
When requested concerning the timeline for upgrades, the Monegasque driver reportedly expressed frustration, noting that Ferrari’s deliberate enhancements wouldn’t arrive quickly sufficient to vary their fortunes within the quick time period. His response underscored the rising hole between expectations and actuality for the Italian staff.
The beginning of the 2025 System 1 season has been significantly disheartening for Charles Leclerc when in comparison with his earlier years at Ferrari. Coming into the brand new season, he had each purpose to imagine he might problem not solely the McLaren duo but additionally 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 incapability 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 better—and in the event that they want to maintain the Monegasque’s religion in the long run.
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