Charles Leclerc thinks caution is necessary when discussing Ferrari’s performance in F1 2025 and recognized the pressure the Scuderia faces during races.
Ferrari holds third place in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Mercedes by 16 points, while McLaren has surged ahead with nearly double the points of the Brackley team.
Charles Leclerc ‘taken aback’ by Ferrari speculation
After securing second place in F1 2024, Ferrari seems to be experiencing a season on par with the previous one. However, last year, Ferrari’s careful enhancements on an already strong car resulted in the SF-24 concluding the year as, possibly, a formidable rival to McLaren’s championship-winning MCL38.
This year, the situation is quite different since the SF-25’s performance typically places the Scuderia as the fourth-fastest among the top four teams, and without Red Bull’s one-sided scoring with Max Verstappen, it likely would have fallen to fourth.
This season, Ferrari has only secured three podium finishes, and winning seems unattainable now as McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes have all achieved first-place finishes.
The gap in performance has added to the mounting pressure within the Ferrari camp. The team entered the 2025 season with high hopes of closing the gap to McLaren and contending for a championship, but reality has offered a different story. With inconsistent qualifying sessions, race pace that lacks competitiveness compared to front-runners, and strategy missteps, Ferrari has often found itself fighting to stay ahead of Aston Martin rather than challenging for wins.
Before the Canadian Grand Prix, the team’s performance triggered a wave of speculation primarily centered on team principal Fred Vasseur’s future, while also indicating that Leclerc is contemplating his options with the team.
The Monegasque has a contract that runs until 2029, signifying a ten-year span since he initially joined the Scuderia’s driver lineup in 2019. However, Italian media reports suggested that Leclerc might be considering a move to Mercedes or Aston Martin in pursuit of his first championship.
Commenting on the rumors during his media talk ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Leclerc refuted any claims that he had mentioned contemplating a departure from Ferrari.
“I’m quite shocked. I don’t know its origin, so I’d prefer to just overlook it,” he stated.
“However, I haven’t mentioned any of this in the recent races; if anything, I continue to express my love for the team and my desire to restore Ferrari to its former glory. Well, I was simply taken aback.”
Leclerc has been a devoted figure within the Ferrari ranks, often praised for his loyalty and commitment, especially during difficult periods. His long-term contract was seen as a declaration of intent, not only from Leclerc but also from Ferrari, signaling faith in him as their future champion.
Since much of the speculation has centered on Vasseur instead of the Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton driver duo, Leclerc mirrored Hamilton’s endorsement of Vasseur.
“We share a vision; the three of us—Fred, Lewis, and I—are focused on returning to victory, and we’ve been putting in the effort to make that happen,” he stated.
“This is certainly our plan, and I believe we should adhere to it.”
Leclerc’s public support for Vasseur reaffirms the unity within the current Ferrari leadership. With the addition of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton this year, Ferrari has made bold moves in reshaping its future. The synergy between Hamilton, Leclerc, and Vasseur has been repeatedly cited as a core strength the team is leaning on to turn its fortunes around.
Despite the current challenges, Leclerc maintains a hopeful outlook. While podiums and wins remain elusive at this stage of the season, the team’s internal cohesion and shared determination are being highlighted as foundational assets.
As the championship progresses, Ferrari will be under close scrutiny—not just for their results on track, but for their ability to silence internal doubts and rebuild momentum. Leclerc’s calm and measured response to speculation is likely to offer some reassurance to the Tifosi and Ferrari’s leadership alike, as they navigate a turbulent stretch in their 2025 campaign.
