Charles Leclerc addressed the media ahead of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, the ninth round of the 2026 season, making it clear that he is determined to bounce back after a series of disappointing results. At the same time, the Ferrari driver adopted a realistic approach, acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead at Silverstone.
With the Sprint format returning this weekend, Silverstone is expected to deliver plenty of action. On paper, Mercedes appears to be the team to beat with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, while McLaren and Red Bull are expected to be close behind. Ferrari, however, could struggle on the circuit’s long straights, where its power unit is likely to be at a disadvantage compared to its main rivals.
Charles Leclerc reflects on recent struggles and Ferrari’s weaknesses
Looking back at Ferrari’s difficult race in Austria, Charles Leclerc believes the team has identified the key issues that compromised its performance on Sunday: “We definitely struggled in the race and performed poorly compared to our strong Saturday. However, I think we’ve identified some of the elements that didn’t work and played an important role in our lack of performance.”
The Monegasque also admitted that the next two races could prove particularly difficult for Ferrari because of the characteristics of the circuits: “The next two Grands Prix, at high-speed tracks like Great Britain and Belgium, will be very tough for the team. The best thing we can do is keep our heads down and continue pushing, no matter what position we’re fighting for.”
Despite the recent setbacks, Charles Leclerc pointed to encouraging signs from the previous race weekend: “In Barcelona, the feeling inside the car was much better, and the pace was also very strong.”
His comments suggest Ferrari believes it has made progress in understanding the problems that emerged on race day, despite showing competitive pace on Saturdays.
Charles Leclerc on Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s internal battle
Asked about his comparison with teammate Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc preferred not to read too much into the current balance between the two Ferrari drivers: “Comparison with Hamilton? Performance fluctuations happen. Last year they went one way, this year they’re going the other. My goal is to focus exclusively on my own performance.”
Charles Leclerc also said he has not noticed any major change in Lewis Hamilton’s approach since joining Ferrari, although he acknowledged that the seven-time world champion is now much more settled within the team: “It’s true that Lewis feels much more comfortable within the team now, and that always helps. Lewis now knows practically everyone and feels just as comfortable as I do. Together, we continue improving our working processes and making changes.”
A realistic approach for Silverstone
Rather than making bold predictions for the British Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc emphasised the importance of remaining focused on his own performance and continuing Ferrari’s development.
His comments reflect a determined yet measured mindset, with the Monegasque fully aware that resilience, continuous improvement and extracting the maximum from every weekend will be crucial if Ferrari hopes to close the gap to its rivals during the remainder of the Formula 1 season.
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