Charles Leclerc has repudiated that the complications that Ferrari has encountered with the SF-25 could have a detrimental impact on the team’s 2026 Formula 1 car.
Having battled eventual champions McLaren right to the wire in the previous campaign, Ferrari entered this season endeavouring to mount a sustained title challenge.
However, the Italian marque has endured a galling start to 2025, with two podiums in the opening eight races placing the team a towering 177 points behind McLaren.
Ferrari’s struggles have prompted questions to be targeted at the squad’s decision to commit to extensive changes compared to the championship-contending SF-24.
The Maranello-based squad opted against evolving its previous car like the side’s leading rivals, despite this season marking the final one with the current regulations.
But Leclerc dismissed that Ferrari had been “overconfident” with its approach, citing Lewis Hamilton’s arrival accentuated the usual expectation surrounding the team.
“I don’t think we were overconfident, no,” Leclerc told media including Motorsport Week prior to the Spanish Grand Prix.
“I think there was a lot of hype around the team at the beginning of the season, but not really that we can control, mostly because Lewis was joining the team and it was a big thing for the F1 paddock, so there was lots of talks about Ferrari and loads of hopes as well maybe that we will be at the level that we are not at the moment.
“Obviously the hopes were also within the team, that we had done a good job and we wanted to be fighting for the championship or at least to start where we ended up the season last year, but that didn’t happen. But I don’t think we were overly optimistic. We were just focusing on ourselves and as a matter of fact, we have not been good enough for this first part of the season.”
Leclerc denies Ferrari 2026 plans in trouble
Leclerc has quashed the notion that it is essential Ferrari addresses the current problems with the car to ensure it avoids a sluggish start once the rules reset in 2026.
Asked whether seeking a solution to the issues that have plagued the SF-25 could help Ferrari with development on the team’s 2026 challenger, Leclerc responded: “I don’t think so because this year and next year are so different that I think we won’t be running into the same issues.
“I’ll be very surprised if that’s the case because the car should be running in a very different place next year.
“So yeah, I don’t think that if we don’t resolve it this year then we won’t be starting on the right path next year.
“However, just for us and for this season as we are still fully focused for this season it’s extremely important to understand and to fix it as soon as possible.
“So that’s why we are so keen on trying everything possible to improve it [the car].”
READ MORE – Ferrari concedes it made ‘mistakes’ with troubled 2025 F1 car
