Charles Leclerc at the United States Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

Leclerc 'not depressed, just disappointed' as struggles continues

18:27, 17 Oct

byOlly Darcy

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc said he is "disappointed" but not "depressed" as the Scuderia's struggling 2025 season goes on.

Currently, the 28-year-old sits P5 in the drivers' standings with 173 points, 64 points behind George Russell in P4 as the Italian team continues their search for their first Grand Prix win this campaign.

All five podiums for Ferrari have come via Leclerc, with teammate Lewis Hamilton still waiting for his maiden Grand Prix podium with the Prancing Horse, who now sit third in the constructors' championship with 298 points, 27 off Mercedes in P2.

Charles Leclerc won the United States Grand Prix last year with a Ferrari one-two - Photo: Race Pictures

The Monegasque driver was asked if anything could be gained from the final six races of the season after cutting a "depressed" figure as a result of Ferrari's struggles in Singapore and at the Italian Grand Prix.

"I wouldn't use the word depressed. Maybe, of course, disappointing and disappointed with coming home with no podiums," Leclerc explained to GPblog and others in Austin.

"But that's the same for the whole team. I think, as Ferrari, we are well aware of what our targets are and what we should do. At the moment, we came short of what we want to do, and whenever this happens, there's disappointment, and there was disappointment on my side as well."

'Motivation' still high at Ferrari as Horner rumours grow

Coming into the United States Grand Prix, rumours started to build up surrounding the future of Frederic Vasseur as team principal, with Christian Horner's name floating around as a potential replacement.

However, Leclerc shrugged off those rumours quickly, along with Hamilton, during media day in Austin.

The 28-year-old then went on to say that there is still plenty of hope throughout Ferrari, despite the challenging campaign.

Poll

"There's huge motivation to try and turn the situation around and to at least do something special before the end of the season," continued Leclerc.

"We don't quite have the raw performance that McLaren or Red Bull can have, and even Mercedes now, but if we do everything perfectly, it's not like we are a second off.

"If we do everything perfectly, I think there are still opportunities, especially on weekends like this, where it's a sprint weekend. For that, I'm looking forward to it. But, yeah, it's not been an easy couple of weekends, for sure."

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