Charles Leclerc hopes Ferrari can have a strong start in 2026. Photo: RacePictures.

Ferrari handed clock is ticking warning in Leclerc brutally honest statement

17:01, 12 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

Charles Leclerc is aware that he's currently navigating throguh crucial years in his F1 career and thus he hopes Ferrari can finally get off to a strong start come the 2026 season.

These are years that are very important. It’s very important for me that we start on the right foot next year.

- Charles Leclerc

Despite the promise shown in 2024, coming just 14 points off McLaren in the Constructors' Standings, the Scuderia's 2025 has been an emotional rollescaoster with far more low's than high's.

The SF-25 carried an inherent flaw that saw both cars of Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton disqualified at the Chinese GP.

The rear suspension on Ferrari's F1 2025 car was collapsing under aerodynamic load, early and mid season reports suggested. To mitigate this the Italians increased their ride height at the expense of speed and driveability.

“At the beginning of the year, it was difficult to put everything together, especially in qualifying when you are really pushing the car to the limit with low fuel,” Leclerc said to The Athletic. “That made it very, very difficult.”

Charles Leclerc at the Singapore GP's press conference - Photo: Race Pictures

The Monegasque thinks that Mercedes', Red Bull's and Ferrari's development during the winter break were similar, however, all three couldn't hold a candle to the team that has clinched the Constructors' title with six Grands Prix left to go in the season.

“McLaren has been kind of dominating since the beginning of the season. On that side, it’s a little bit disappointing."

Lecler is currently living out his best years in his F1 career he believes. “Surely it’s part of my years where I feel where I’m at my best," Leclerc says before adding, "I cannot quite feel the downside of the slope yet! And I don’t expect it to come anytime soon.”

However, he understands the impact this period may have in his career, and so a Ferrari hope targeting 2026 emerges. “But surely, these are years that are very important. It’s very important for me that we start on the right foot next year.”

Ferrari engulfed in turmoil?

According to reports Ferrari are currently facing loads of internal conflicts as tension resulting from the team's myriad of lacklustre performances reaches new heights.

Team principal Frédéric Vasseur reportedly had a heated discussion with a trackside engineer after the Singapore GP qualifying, and Leclerc's severe judgment on the SF-25 has not made engineers and mechanics happy.

F1 expert Ralf Schumacher dubbed the Scuderia a costly and inexplicable "disaster," with former F1 champion Jenson Button arguing that a fear culture now reigns at Ferrari.

If such reports are true, then the Maranello-based outfit still has a long way to go in their internal rebuilding process before they are able to provide Leclerc with a chance to fulfill his dream of taking Ferrari back to the top.

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