Charles Leclerc has admitted that Ferrari’s disastrous season has ensured the team is entering a “now or never” period with the impending rule changes in Formula 1.
Ferrari was unable to conclude a tumultuous 2025 campaign on a high note with silverware in Abu Dhabi, as Leclerc missed out on the podium despite a valiant drive.
Having capitalised on George Russell’s sluggish launch to gain a place at the start, Leclerc proceeded to pile the pressure on Lando Norris across the opening stages.
However, the Monegasque could not get close enough to complete a pass on the McLaren driver, who hung onto third place to claim a maiden Drivers’ Championship.
Regardless, Leclerc expressed surprise that Ferrari possessed the pace in race trim to trouble McLaren to an extent that it had to cover his second pitstop with Norris.
“I did not expect it to be that fast, because we had the same pace as the guys here,” Leclerc told media including Motorsport Week.
“We had a few amount of laps, then I did the two-stop in order to put a bit more pressure on the McLaren and try and do something different.
“But obviously Lando was kind of copying me, so it wasn’t as exciting.
“I think the one-stop anyway was the right strategy, I wanted to try something different, considering I wouldn’t have passed on the same [tyres] he had done.”
Ferrari entered the last round 12 months ago still in title contention, but this time around, it arrived at the Yas Marina Circuit guaranteed to finish outside the top three.
Leclerc conceded that his anguish at the plight the Italian marque has encountered in 2025 didn’t set in completely until the chequered flag dropped on the campaign.
“I think during the season, race after race, you keep your head high, you try and not have the disappointment get to you,” he explained.
“But now that everything is finished, I realised I wanted to forget about this season that has been very disappointing.”
Leclerc, who has now registered four winless seasons since his promotion to Ferrari in 2019, added: “It’s tough, whether it’s the toughest [season] or not, I don’t know.
“I tend to forget those negative emotions as quickly as possible, so I don’t know if it’s the worst one, but for sure it’s a very difficult one.”
Leclerc demands Ferrari makes quick start to 2026
But with all-new regulations providing the grid with a clean slate, Leclerc has stressed that it is imperative that Ferrari begins next season with a competitive baseline.
“It’s tough, but at the same time, I think the whole team is hugely motivated for next year, because it’s such a big change, a huge opportunity to show what Ferrari is capable of,” he said.
“And it’s now or never, so I really hope that we will start this new era on the right foot, because it’s important for the four years after.”
Leclerc, who has been linked with a move should Ferrari drop the ball in 2026, thinks the opening seven races will show who is poised to succeed in the next rules era.
“Yeah, I think it will be, yes,” he responded when asked whether that period could dictate the long-term pecking order in the sport.
“Maybe not in the first three, four races, but by race six, seven, I think we’ll have a good idea of who are the teams that will be dominating for the four years after.”
And while he reiterated his trust in the team, Leclerc was hesitant to be drawn on whether Ferrari is better-prepared than it was when the regulations changed in 2022.
“We don’t know where the others are,” he highlighted. “There are so many unknowns.
“I would rather not speak and wait next year in the first few races and see where we are, and, in the meantime, focus on the project and trying to work in the best possible way.”
READ MORE – Where Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari’s disappointing 2025 can be considered ‘a good season’
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