Charles Leclerc is keeping expectations low ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, a track where Ferrari has traditionally performed well. The Monegasque driver does not see the SF-25 capable of winning against McLaren, but if the heat plays a role, he hopes the Scuderia can return to staying ahead of Mercedes in the battle for second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Traditionally, the Singapore Grand Prix marks the beginning of the final stretch of the Formula 1 season. It is not just the calendar that confirms this; the questions asked to teams and drivers also increasingly tend to wrap up the storylines of the year, especially when dealing with those who no longer have much to play for. This is the case with Charles Leclerc, who at Marina Bay once again stuck to his 2025 trend of blunt, straightforward assessments, without embellishments or attempts to interpret reality differently.
Speaking about the target of securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship, Charles Leclerc made his position very clear: “I think the whole team is disappointed. If you are Ferrari, your goal is always to return to the top, not to fight for second, third or fourth in the Constructors’ standings. That is not what we want. So we are not satisfied, I am not satisfied. We must do better, and this is very clear for every single member of the team.”
Leclerc admitted that he does not have a precise idea of where the SF-25 is lacking, but he sees the situation as relatively straightforward: “If I knew exactly where we were falling short, things would be easier. I can say that compared to last season, ourselves, Mercedes and Red Bull have made more or less the same step forward. But there is one team that found something special, and that is McLaren. I also think Red Bull has found part of the solution, which we have seen in the last two races, while neither we nor Mercedes have managed to do so yet.”
The focus then shifted to the Singapore weekend. Returning to a high-downforce circuit could be good news for Ferrari, but Charles Leclerc was not convinced: “We cannot expect miracles, but I want to make it clear that what we saw in Baku does not reflect the potential we had. We did not do a good job in qualifying, and I was the first to fail to put everything together in Q3 as I should have. Having said that, I do not think we can expect to be more competitive here in Singapore compared to Baku. In fact, I have the feeling McLaren will have an even bigger advantage on a track like this. Then, compared to our main rivals—which at this point is mainly Mercedes—we should be in a slightly better position if the temperatures remain high, and I believe that will be the case.”
When reminded that he had made more or less the same remarks on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he went on to take pole position, Charles Leclerc raised his arms: “I hope it happens again! But honestly, I still struggle to understand what happened in Hungary. There were swings of seven tenths between Q1 and Q2 and the same between Q2 and Q3, and I think nobody really understood what caused those variations. It was a difficult but beautiful session, though I do not expect the same conditions this weekend. Let’s just say it is very unlikely, but I will give everything to try again.”
Twelve months ago, Ferrari was on the verge of what would turn out to be an excellent season finale, with victories in Austin and Mexico City. But looking ahead to the upcoming rounds, Charles Leclerc was cautious about the possibility of achieving at least one race win: “I think it is very unlikely. Unfortunately, McLaren is very strong even in hot conditions. So yes, with high temperatures we may confirm ourselves stronger than Mercedes, but certainly not stronger than McLaren. I don’t think we will get the better of them. That said, never say never—perhaps another chance could be Las Vegas, which is a very unusual circuit.” – the Monegasque driver pointed out during Thursday’s press conference at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Charles Leclerc concluded with a broader reflection: “We are in a very different situation compared to last year. To sum it up as simply as possible: I think Mercedes is very strong when it is cold, and we seem to be stronger when it is hot. So looking at the next races, I hope it will be as hot as possible. If that happens, we will have a greater advantage, also in terms of adapting to track characteristics. This weekend I expect high temperatures, and that is an advantage we must seize as an opportunity to close the gap that still separates us from them.”
Leave a Reply