Charles Leclerc has declared that he remains fully dedicated to winning the Formula 1 world championship with Ferrari, regardless of how much time it takes. The 27-year-old driver insists his strong affection for the iconic Scuderia fuels his determination to bring the team back to the pinnacle of the sport.
Having joined Ferrari’s academy in 2016 and advancing to their F1 squad three years later, Leclerc has since secured eight Grand Prix victories and has narrowly missed the championship, finishing as high as second in the standings. Despite not yet claiming a world title, he has consistently outperformed his teammates except for once, reflecting his proven skill and leadership within the team.
Ongoing Challenges and Team Performance Struggles
Ferrari, however, has struggled to supply Leclerc with a car capable of contesting for the championship, with the 2024 season proving difficult as he currently ranks fifth in the drivers’ standings, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 161 points. When asked before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix about why he remains loyal instead of exploring other options, Leclerc responded,
“Because I love this team very much, I think that’s the answer.”
He elaborated,
“I’ve always loved Ferrari and that’s where I draw my motivation from because I want to bring back Ferrari to the top, no matter how long it takes.”
He emphasized his commitment to stay with the team so long as he believes in the project, saying,
“I’ll do absolutely everything until I stop believing in the project, but at the moment I’m fully into it, I’m fully working on it and that’s what motivates me.”
Maintaining Motivation Amid Disappointment
Despite a challenging start to the season and the team falling behind top competitors like McLaren, Leclerc continues to find motivation from smaller targets.
“Of course that doesn’t erase the disappointment that I had at the beginning of the season when I saw that we were quite a few steps behind McLaren. But then you reset and you find your motivation in other goals, in other targets, which is now to hopefully get a win this year,”
he explained.
He acknowledged the current situation is
“underwhelming compared to where we wanted to be,”
but stressed the importance of making the most of the circumstances.
“It’s a situation we are in and as a driver I’ve got to make the best out of this situation, not only for the team but also for myself. I’m very competitive as well so the fact that we’ve got two cars is also something that pushes me to keep being at the top of my game and to keep improving.”
Handling Pressure From Ferrari’s High Expectations
Ferrari’s rich history and passionate tifosi support bring unique pressure on its drivers, especially following last year’s close championship fight. This season has proved difficult, with neither Leclerc nor his teammate Lewis Hamilton achieving a race win yet. The Monegasque explained how he manages external pressures:
“This is what I’ve been doing since I started with the team.”
Reflecting on his early days at Ferrari, Leclerc said,
“Obviously 2019 was a little bit more difficult because I was young, everything was new… and there was also a lot of hype on just me… being in red for my second year in Formula 1 was just very special.”
He highlighted the need to maintain focus, stating,
“But since then it’s important to do a step back and to not always react on emotions and on what’s being said around.”
Leclerc concluded on this topic,
“I think it’s very important to just stay focused and on that I think we are doing a good job – but not good enough, because we must be back winning soon.”
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Regulations and Future Challenges
The introduction of new technical rules for 2026 offers Ferrari and Leclerc a fresh chance to contend for championships, with regulations emphasizing lighter, narrower cars and increased use of electric power. While initially sceptical, Leclerc has warmed to the developments after simulator testing.
“The rate of improvement is very impressive,”
he said, noting the progress made by teams recently.
He acknowledged,
“I think for all the teams there are big, big gains found every week, so since the last time I actually commented [on the regulation changes], it’s definitely gone better and that is a good thing.”
Though he anticipates tough adaptation ahead, he embraces the challenge:
“I still think that it’s going to be a huge change and there will be some things that I think are going to be very difficult to change. We’ll just have to adapt to these new cars and also the way we will fight is going to be very tricky.”
Leclerc expressed optimism mixed with realism, saying,
“But I take that as a challenge. I’m sure that if we win I will absolutely love those regulations. If we don’t then it might be four very long years [until the next change].”
Significance of Leclerc’s Dedication for Ferrari’s Future
Charles Leclerc’s unwavering commitment to securing a Formula 1 championship for Ferrari exemplifies his deep connection with the team and its supporters. His persistence amid setbacks underscores the challenges Ferrari faces in responding to competitive rivals like McLaren and managing ambitious performance expectations.
With major regulatory changes looming in 2026, Leclerc’s resolve and experience position him as a central figure to lead Ferrari through a transformative period. How well the team adapts and supports its driver will heavily influence their chances to reclaim their place at the sharp end of Formula 1’s world championship fight in the coming years.
