‘I have never seen Ferrari do this’ – Charles Leclerc reveals…read more
Charles Leclerc has opened up about a significant shift within Ferrari, admitting that he has never witnessed the Italian team operate in quite the same way during his time with the Scuderia.
The Monegasque driver, who has been with Ferrari since 2019, revealed that the team is taking a different approach as it looks to close the gap to Mercedes during the 2026 Formula 1 season. Despite strong efforts from both Leclerc and his team-mate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari have been unable to consistently challenge Mercedes’ dominant driver pairing of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes have enjoyed a remarkable start to the campaign, winning every race so far and establishing themselves as the team to beat. Their impressive performances have helped them build a commanding 72-point advantage over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship standings.
Speaking about Ferrari’s current situation, Leclerc explained that the team has adopted a level of transparency and self-analysis that he has rarely experienced before. According to the Ferrari star, the squad has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to identify weaknesses and improve performance, even as results on track have fallen short of expectations.
Leclerc suggested that the atmosphere within the team remains positive despite the difficult challenge posed by Mercedes. Rather than becoming discouraged by the championship deficit, Ferrari’s engineers and management have focused on understanding exactly where improvements can be made.
The 28-year-old emphasized that the team has shown a willingness to examine every aspect of its operation in pursuit of better results. He noted that the approach being taken is different from previous seasons and has impressed him as Ferrari continues its quest to return to the front of the grid.
Ferrari entered the season with high hopes, particularly after securing the services of Hamilton. The arrival of the British superstar generated enormous excitement among fans and raised expectations that the team could finally mount a serious championship challenge.
However, Mercedes have proven exceptionally difficult to beat. Russell has continued to deliver consistent performances, while rookie sensation Antonelli has quickly adapted to Formula 1 and played a major role in the Silver Arrows’ dominant campaign.
For Hamilton, the season has presented a fresh challenge as he continues to settle into life at Ferrari. The former Mercedes driver has shown flashes of speed and experience, but victories have remained elusive as the team searches for the extra performance needed to challenge its rivals.
Leclerc remains optimistic that Ferrari can eventually turn the tide. He believes the team’s new mindset and determination to improve could provide the foundation for future success, even if immediate results have not yet matched their ambitions.
With plenty of races still remaining in the season, Ferrari’s drivers and engineers are determined to keep pushing. While Mercedes currently hold the upper hand, Leclerc’s comments suggest that important changes are taking place behind the scenes at Maranello.
Whether those adjustments will be enough to close the gap remains to be seen, but Leclerc’s confidence in Ferrari’s evolving approach indicates that the team is committed to fighting until the very end of the championship battle.