Charles Leclerc has expressed uncertainty about his ability to secure a victory for Ferrari at the upcoming Baku Grand Prix, despite holding positive memories of the circuit. Leclerc’s comments come amid a challenging 2025 season where Ferrari has yet to claim a feature race win, underscoring the current difficulties faced by the Scuderia in their quest to return to form.
Leclerc Shares Cautious Optimism Despite Ferrari’s Struggles
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sport Italia’s Davide Camicioli, Leclerc revealed mixed feelings about Ferrari’s chances at Baku. While he acknowledged his fondness for the circuit and recalled strong performances there in past seasons, he remained realistic about the challenges ahead.
“Do I think I can win? I don’t know. I definitely like Baku a lot, it’s a place where we’ve been strong even in years when it was difficult to be. So yes, I have hope, but from pole to victory there are still a lot of laps in between…”
— Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver
Leclerc also addressed Ferrari’s current pace relative to top rivals, highlighting McLaren as the leading constructor this year while recognizing the threat posed by Red Bull and Max Verstappen. He expressed confidence that Ferrari could perform well in qualifying but warned that race conditions remained unpredictable.
“We’ll see what’s possible and where we’ll be on the grid. We’re definitely not the best car. That’s McLaren, obviously, but I also expect big things from Red Bull and Verstappen. Here in qualifying we’ve done good things before, but that counts for little – after that comes the race, and there I’ll give it everything.”
— Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver
On his relationship with Verstappen, Leclerc highlighted the mutual respect and their shared history of rivalry during junior racing years, though he noted they have yet to engage in a full competitive battle in Formula 1.
“There’s a lot of respect. We grew up together and have been rivals many times in the past. Unfortunately, in F1 we haven’t yet had the chance to fight properly, but I hope one day it will happen. Our duty is to have a car capable of going after them.”
— Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver
Looking Ahead: Focus on Ferrari’s New Era Starting in 2026
This season’s difficulties, with McLaren’s dominance and strong performances from Red Bull and Mercedes, have shifted Ferrari’s emphasis toward the next season. Leclerc underlined the importance of the 2026 regulation changes, which could offer Ferrari a fresh start after a disappointing campaign.
However, he expressed uncertainty about how Ferrari and the rest of the field will adapt to the new rules, indicating that many questions remain unanswered.
“If we win, I’ll love them to death. We’re trying to start a new era on the right foot, but the truth is there are too many question marks for everyone and we don’t know what it will be like.”
— Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver
Ferrari’s struggles this season are notable as the team has been unable to claim a single feature race win in 2025, a sharp contrast to their historical dominance. Leclerc currently sits fifth in the drivers’ championship ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who is 45 points behind in sixth place. Meanwhile, McLaren has been the standout constructor with 12 victories, reinforcing their position at the front of the grid.
Looking forward, Ferrari’s ability to rebuild and challenge for victories next year will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as the team aims to reestablish itself among the sport’s elite.
