Speaking during the official press conference that opened the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Charles Leclerc offered a measured assessment of Ferrari’s current situation following the substantial upgrade package introduced in Miami. The updates failed to reduce the gap to Mercedes, which remained largely unchanged in race conditions, while the developments brought by Red Bull and McLaren proved effective enough to move both teams ahead of the Scuderia.
When asked by Lawrence Barretto about this situation, the Monegasque driver explained that in the 2026 Formula 1 season, extracting the maximum from the available package and finding the right setup can have a dramatic impact on competitiveness from one weekend to the next.
“Yes, I think it’s very difficult to have a clear picture this year because so much depends on optimising the system. You can go from being very competitive to struggling over a single weekend, and that’s not necessarily because of upgrades.”
Charles Leclerc then outlined what he sees as the key reference points in the championship battle.
“From my point of view, McLaren and Red Bull are definitely understanding how to maximise their systems in addition to the upgrades they’ve introduced, while Mercedes remains the team to beat. That’s why we absolutely need to execute everything perfectly this weekend to make sure we stay as close as possible to Mercedes and, hopefully, ahead of McLaren and Red Bull. But it will be tough. I expect things to be extremely close, and I hope that will be the case.”
Is Formula 1 easier for young drivers? Charles Leclerc says no
During the same press conference, Charles Leclerc was also asked to compare how difficult it is for young drivers to enter Formula 1 today versus previous generations. Responding to a question about the fact that a 19-year-old is currently leading the championship, the Ferrari driver firmly rejected the suggestion that modern Formula 1 is easier for younger talents.
“No. No, no, no, it’s not easier in any way. I think one of the strengths, the positive aspects of being young and in your first years in Formula 1, is that you tend not to overthink things. You just go for it and push flat out, and that’s a great quality. You can definitely see that as one of Kimi’s characteristics.
“But no, it’s not easier now. If anything, honestly, the cars are incredibly complex these days. Yes, simulators are at a much higher level, but it’s not like we were that far behind back in 2018. So no, I don’t think it’s easier at all, one hundred percent.”
Charles Leclerc’s candid remarks ahead of the action in Montreal therefore highlight the incredibly narrow operational margins that define the current Formula 1 landscape. While Ferrari faces the immediate, high-stakes challenge of optimizing its aerodynamic package to disrupt Mercedes’ straight-line supremacy at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the Monegasque’s defense of the sport’s younger generation shows the mental resilience required at the pinnacle of motorsport. Success on Sunday will not merely come down to the physical updates bolted onto the chassis, but rather to the engineering department’s ability to perfectly calibrate their electronic systems across the venue’s aggressive curbs. As the grid prepares for a punishing stop-and-go battle, Ferrari’s capacity for flawless operational execution under pressure will completely dictate whether they can close the gap to the front or fall further behind their rapidly evolving rivals.
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