Charles Leclerc is optimistic that Ferrari “seeing a lot of gains” from its recent upgrades will make a Formula 1 title challenge in 2025 a realistic prospect for the team.
Ferrari has sustained a productive campaign in the second term under Frederic Vasseur’s leadership as it lies third in the Constructors’ Championship with three wins.
The Italian marque’s revamped SF-24 dispelled the negative tendencies that hindered its capricious predecessor to provide a car that is more competitive in race trim.
But having closed to 24 points behind Red Bull when Leclerc won in Monaco, Ferrari proceeded to endure a ruinous run as it fought complications with developments.
Ferrari’s choice to accelerate a revised floor to the Spanish Grand Prix prompted it to experience accentuated bouncing at high speed, blunting the team’s momentum.
Leclerc, who capitalised on Ferrari’s renewed resurgence to prevail on Ferrari’s home soil at Monza, has admitted that the season has been an emotional rollercoaster.
“It’s been a season that, emotionally speaking, was really contrasting,” Leclerc told The Race.
“Because I’ve had the two wins that I always dream of, which is Monaco and Monza.
“But at the same time, we went through a time where we had to experience things with the set-up.
“And we went through very tricky parts with the car where it was very difficult to drive, that pushed us to not optimise our weekend.
“It was difficult to then come back to our form.
“So, when you look back at the season, there were highs and lows – but the highs were very high and the lows were very low.”
Ferrari’s game-changing F1 update
Ferrari’s mid-season blip had a huge impact on Leclerc as experiments to help cure the Maranello-based squad’s woes led to a disastrous British Grand Prix weekend.
READ MORE: Leclerc used ‘extreme’ F1 set-ups to help cure Ferrari bouncing
However, the Monegasque has produced an emphatic reaction to beat team-mate Carlos Sainz in the last six races, delivering three podiums and that Monza triumph.
But while its revival is set to be tested on F1’s return to conventional tracks, Leclerc is positive that Ferrari’s newest floor design has vast untapped potential to unlock.
“We are seeing quite a lot of gains,” he revealed. “We just need time to bring those upgrades on the car.”
Leclerc expecting Ferrari 2025 title challenge
Asked whether that means an assault on the championship is a reasonable expectation next season upon Lewis Hamilton‘s arrival, Leclerc responded: “Yes. It is.
He then added: “Obviously it is a constant process that keeps evolving and the goal is to always make it better.
“So I would say that ’25 will be good, ’26 will be better and ’27 will be even better and we optimise everything. But it’s all relative.
“There is not one team that is getting worse from one year to the other. It’s how much of a step forward the others have done.
“But on our side I have zero doubts that we will make a step forward next year and another one the year after.”
READ MORE: Charles Leclerc ‘super curious’ to go up against Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari
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