Charles Leclerc backs Ferrari’s decision to sacrifice 2025 for 2026 regulations. Charles Leclerc explains why Ferrari’s decision to focus on the 2026 Formula 1 regulations.

F1 | Leclerc says Ferrari made the right choice: “Focusing on 2026? I don’t regret it”

Charles Leclerc has admitted that, despite a difficult season for Scuderia Ferrari, the decision to focus primarily on 2026 was an “obvious” one. Given McLaren’s dominance already at the start of the year, the Maranello-based team quickly realised that it would not be able to fight for either the drivers’ or constructors’ championships, leading to a strategic choice that the Monegasque driver does not regret.

In line with Charles Leclerc’s view, team principal Frédéric Vasseur also explained that Ferrari soon understood they would not be able to compete on equal terms with their rivals, which is why they chose to invest more resources into the following season. The 2026 campaign will represent a clean slate for all teams, with new regulations and radically different car designs expected to reshape the competitive order on track.

This meant that, while Ferrari was still able to introduce updates during the year, aerodynamic development of the SF-25 was largely put on hold. As a result, the team’s drivers were forced to extract the maximum potential from the car while their rivals continued to improve. Without even a single victory, Ferrari recorded its worst result since 2020, finishing only fourth in the constructors’ championship behind McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull.

Leclerc’s words

When asked how significant the psychological impact was of knowing from the very start of the season that Ferrari would be at a technical disadvantage compared to its rivals, Charles Leclerc was extremely honest.

“Well, not really, because we were at a technical disadvantage from the first race. So it’s not like it radically changed our approach to the season. And we realised fairly quickly that we would not be fighting for the world championship because McLaren was too strong,” the Monegasque explained. “Red Bull was also obviously starting to make big steps forward. It didn’t make much sense to invest all our resources trying to finish third or second – if everything went perfectly – in the constructors’ standings, at the expense of the following year, at all costs.”

“So yes, it’s never something you want to do. I would have much preferred to push for the entire year and try to fight for that world championship, 100%. But if you find yourself in the situation we were in at the beginning of the year, I think it was an obvious choice. So, I don’t regret it.”

The problems of 2025

Despite everything, the 28-year-old enjoyed a strong individual season. He secured one pole position and seven podium finishes, which allowed him to end the year fifth in the drivers’ standings. His teammate endured a more difficult campaign, completing his first season without a Grand Prix podium since entering Formula 1 in 2007.

“I think for us there isn’t just one single reason. There are many reasons that, at different moments, have played a role,” Charles Leclerc said when discussing the issues encountered with the Ferrari car. “At the start of 2022, we actually began quite well, but we struggled to make predictions, while Red Bull had a very stable base.”

“And they were actually quite overweight, so as soon as they lost weight, they suddenly found themselves at the level where they have stayed ever since. And then, for this year, we focused very early on the car for next season, and I hope it will be a winning bet.”

“But for sure, that choice had some influence over the final two thirds of the season, where we struggled more than others because we didn’t bring many updates. But overall, it has been a generation of cars that has been very, very difficult to understand,” the Monegasque concluded.

Charles Leclerc therefore remains steadfast in his belief that sacrificing the short-term results of 2025 was the only logical path forward for Ferrari. By turning their attention to the 2026 regulations early, the team is gambling on a long-term resurgence, hoping that this strategic “white flag” for the current year will transform into a championship-winning advantage in the next era of Formula 1.