Charles Leclerc has insisted that Ferrari must place a bigger emphasis on extracting more one-lap pace from the SF-25 to salvage its dwindling Formula 1 title hopes.
Leclerc produced a sensational weekend in Saudi Arabia as he trounced struggling team-mate Lewis Hamilton en route to banishing Ferrari’s podium drought in 2025.
The Monegasque revelled in the Ferrari “coming alive” in clean air as he utilised running an extended 29-lap opening stint to pass George Russell to secure third place.
However, Leclerc, who crossed the line eight seconds behind race winner Oscar Piastri, pondered what might have been achievable had he lined up higher than fourth.
“We just need a better car,” Leclerc told media including Motorsport Week. “If we start further up, we’ll have our chances.
“If not, we’re all too close in the race to make a difference. We really need to focus and put everything together in qualifying.
Leclerc had expressed genuine concern about Ferrari’s competitiveness earlier in the weekend as he ended up over three tenths down on Max Verstappen’s pole time.
With the added turbulence from the 2025 cars making grid position even more valuable, Leclerc repeated that an improvement to Ferrari’s single-lap pace is essential.
“I think we are close on the race pace,” he added.
“I think free air dictates a little bit who is going to win the race. That’s always been the case. Maybe this year a little bit more than other years.
“And obviously when that is the case, qualifying is more important.
“But unfortunately, for two years, we are just struggling in qualifying to put everything together.”
Leclerc highlighted that Ferrari’s oscillating performance at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit has created an added complication in its strive to cure the SF-25’s limitations.
READ MORE – Ferrari pinpoints the sole area behind Saudi Arabia F1 pole deficit
“This weekend the problem is it’s not always the same issue,” he continued.
“This time it was four tenths in the first three corners. For the rest of the lap, we were fast.
“And now today in the race, actually, the first sector was probably the best sector we had. So we’ve got to look at that.”
Ferrari in race against time to improve
Ferrari entered the current campaign – the last one with the existing regulations – expected to be in championship contention based on its run to second place in 2024.
But with Leclerc situated 52 points behind championship leader Piastri five rounds into this season, he has stressed Ferrari doesn’t have long to reverse its prospects.
“Obviously, there are answers in what we are doing, and we are doing something wrong, clearly,” he acknowledged. “We’ve got to find it.
“We cannot lose too many races before finding it because we’re already 50 points down in the Drivers’ Championship.
“We’re not looking at it too much, but 50 points is a big number. I don’t want to be losing more points than that in the next few races.”
Leclerc not giving up on 2025 title dream
But Leclerc is adamant that Ferrari’s sluggish start to the campaign hasn’t triggered him to give up hope on the championship prior to the rule change coming in 2026.
“I’m obviously looking forward to trying to win but sooner than next year,” he added.
“Next year is a long way away, and there will be new regulations and everything. It’s a bit too early to think about that.
“We’re pushing at maximum to close the gap as soon as possible and win races, but I wouldn’t want to wait for Jeddah next year to win.”
READ MORE – Charles Leclerc ‘surprised’ Ferrari ‘came alive’ to inspire F1 Saudi Arabian GP podium
