Until a few weeks ago, Charles Leclerc considered Singapore one of the few Grands Prix capable of giving some meaning to an otherwise frustrating season—a small light in an otherwise dark year that had begun with far higher ambitions. However, as the days passed, his expectations gradually diminished. Even on the eve of the Marina Bay race, the Monegasque had already tempered his hopes.
As we discussed before the race, Ferrari would have needed to excel in areas that have often betrayed them in 2025 to aim for a strong result. These included difficulties in generating front-end grip in slower, longer corners and the chronic struggle to bring the soft tires up to temperature. At Singapore, all these limits were clearly evident.
On top of the usual challenges, Ferrari faced brake problems, a recurring issue throughout the season, which were even more pronounced at Marina Bay. Both drivers were forced to manage their brakes during various phases of the race. From lap eight onward, Charles Leclerc suffered from uneven brake temperatures between the rear left and right wheels, a problem that later extended to the front axle.
“From lap eight onward, it was all about brake management. Everyone has to manage brakes to some extent on a track like this, but I think we were worse off than the others, which made it extremely complicated. In short, our race was really difficult,” Charles Leclerc explained after the race, visibly frustrated after another tough weekend.
The brake issues undermined his braking confidence, forcing the Monegasque to continuously lift and coast—lifting off before the braking point in nearly every corner to reduce stress on the system. While brake management is common at Singapore due to the frequent heavy braking zones and limited cooling opportunities, Ferrari’s situation was particularly extreme.
Not surprisingly, Charles Leclerc could not even defend the position he gained at the start against Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The evident brake issues forced him to give way first to the Italian Mercedes driver and then to his teammate. But beyond the brake problems, the bigger concern remains Ferrari’s overall performance.
It was always unlikely that the SF-25 could suddenly change its characteristics mid-season without upgrades. Yet accumulating disappointment after disappointment, even on tracks where there was still hope to deliver some joy to the fans, has been particularly hard to digest.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the car to fight with the guys in front. McLaren has maintained the same gap over us since the start of the year. Red Bull has improved since Monza and is now on the same level as McLaren. Now even Mercedes is on the same level as McLaren and Red Bull, and then there’s us. It’s not easy. At the moment, it almost feels like we are passengers in the car, unable to extract much more,” a dejected Leclerc admitted.
For a team that aimed to fight for the championship at the start of 2025, the season cannot be considered successful, especially as Ferrari remains the only top team without a race win, aside from the sprint race in China. This bleak reality is something Charles Leclerc no longer tries to hide.
From now until the end of the season, no major updates are expected, and there will be circuits where compromises will be necessary—a terrain the SF-25 struggles to handle. This final part of the championship appears to be a bridge toward 2026, which is hoped to mark a significant turnaround.
“There won’t be… I don’t think there will be anything special. I think the picture we saw this weekend will accompany us for the rest of the season,” Charles Leclerc added.
“I wouldn’t call it the toughest season. I think it’s difficult whenever you’re not fighting for wins. But obviously, coming off a year like last year, when you competed for the Constructors’ Championship, and then finding yourself here with high expectations, only to fall short and see no progress throughout the year, it’s not easy.”
For a driver like Charles Leclerc, who aspires to win—or at least fight for—the World Championship, hiding frustration has become increasingly difficult: “Yes, it takes a lot of energy, but it doesn’t demotivate me. If anything, it motivates me even more to try to turn the situation around. It’s very tough, especially after a race like today, where you’re not even fighting for the podium. You have to manage so many issues, and it’s certainly not a pleasant feeling.”
