Charles Leclerc faced mounting frustration throughout the 2025 Formula 1 season, as Ferrari’s performance fell short of expectations despite coming close to the constructors’ title just a year prior. The seasoned driver entered the season hopeful, but persistent difficulties with the SF-25 car hampered his quest to restore Ferrari’s dominance in the sport, casting challenges on his partnership with Lewis Hamilton and underlining the high-pressure atmosphere at the Scuderia.
High Hopes Dashed for Ferrari and Leclerc
After a promising 2024 campaign that nearly secured Ferrari the constructors’ championship, anticipation ran high for a breakthrough year with Charles Leclerc leading the charge. However, as the 2025 season unfolded, Ferrari’s flagship SF-25 failed to match its competitors, and Leclerc found himself enduring one of his toughest runs since 2021. Although the season brought disappointment, observers noted that Leclerc could hardly be blamed for the team’s downturn.
The presence of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, joining Ferrari as Leclerc’s new team-mate, raised the stakes. The Briton had never been consistently outrun by a teammate before, but over the course of the campaign, Leclerc regularly emerged as the stronger Ferrari driver, delivering standout qualifying sessions and steady racecraft amidst adversity.
Mixed Qualifying Success in a Challenging Car
Leclerc, often recognized as a qualifying specialist, was unable to consistently display his trademark speed as the SF-25 lagged behind rivals. Nevertheless, he managed to advance into Q3 on 29 weekends, missing out on a top-ten start only at Imola — where, notably, he still outperformed Hamilton on Saturday.
Throughout the year, Leclerc’s talent shone on circuits that favored driver skill over outright car performance. At Monaco, he capitalized on a strong qualifying showing to secure second both on the grid and at the finish line. In Hungary, a narrow pole position win over the McLaren cars allowed him to lead early, before technical misfortune cost him a potential podium. By season’s end, Leclerc had logged seven podium finishes, while Hamilton ended the year without reaching the top three.
Prioritizing Team Objectives amid Personal Triumphs
Despite his achievements against a highly decorated team-mate, Leclerc remained team-focused throughout. When asked about his comparative performance, he answered,
Lewis is not my target at the moment.
– Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1 Driver. His comments reflected commitment to Ferrari’s collective ambition rather than individual rivalry.
Struggles Intensify as the Season Progresses
Ferrari’s challenges grew as the campaign wore on, with Leclerc describing the SF-25 as unpredictable and “snappy.” During the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, he struggled to keep control of the car and spoke candidly regarding his mindset, telling F1 TV:
Am I optimistic for tomorrow? I am not, which is quite rare,
– Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1 Driver. He emphasized the extent of Ferrari’s difficulties, stating,
Normally I’m a very optimistic person, but I have to say that this weekend, there’s zero performance in this car.
– Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1 Driver.
Publicly, Leclerc echoed his growing frustration, at times describing himself more as a passenger, unable to extract consistent speed from a car that became increasingly difficult to handle on race weekends.
Shifting Focus to the Future
In response to ongoing struggles, Ferrari made a strategic decision to transfer development resources towards the new technical regulations set to arrive in 2026. While this move further compromised their competitiveness in 2025, it was seen as an investment in longer-term success and a potential avenue to reinvigorate Charles Leclerc’s belief in the project.
With Ferrari’s rich history and fan expectations ever-present, the team faces intense pressure to regain its footing in the coming season. The experience and internal resilience of drivers like Leclerc—along with Hamilton’s reputation—will be vital as Ferrari aims to rebuild and return to title contention when new regulations come into force.
