Charles Leclerc ready to gamble everything at Abu Dhabi GP: Ferrari’s drastic SF-25 changes explained. Starting fifth, Charles Leclerc says Ferrari has transformed the SF-25 overnight.

Ferrari revolutionizes the SF-25 in Abu Dhabi, Leclerc admits: “I will take a big risk”

Charles Leclerc is ready to take a major risk in the race after Ferrari completely reshaped his car following Friday’s running in Abu Dhabi. The Monegasque driver will start from fifth position in tomorrow’s Grand Prix, and his goal is crystal clear: finishing on the podium to close out the season. The car underwent several changes after Friday’s sessions and now appears faster, although less stable. Leclerc is prepared to push everything to the limit to bring his Ferrari into the top three positions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

During qualifying, the SF-25 looked extremely nervous, particularly in the final technical sector. Charles Leclerc noted that the car is indeed more difficult to drive, but in this configuration it also allows him to be quicker. Ahead of him on the grid will be George Russell, always a tough competitor, and making a move at the start will be crucial.

The search for a podium in the race

Charles Leclerc stated that he is determined to fight for the podium to conclude Ferrari’s 2025 season in Abu Dhabi. It remains a complicated goal considering he also has both McLaren drivers and Max Verstappen ahead of him, in addition to the already mentioned Russell. One positive statistic for the Monegasque is that he is the only driver to have consistently finished in the top three at Yas Marina since the current generation of cars was introduced in 2022.

“I will definitely take a big risk tomorrow,” he said, reflecting on the fact that the three title contenders will need to be more cautious. “I will try to be on the podium in the last race, it’s all that matters to me. The only thing I’m thinking about is what I can do for Ferrari,” he added while speaking to the media after qualifying.

The changes made to the SF-25

Charles Leclerc’s weekend did not start in the best way after his spin in FP1. Once Friday’s running was complete, the Maranello team made several modifications to the car in an attempt to extract more performance. A team radio from Charles Leclerc during FP3 confirmed improvements made in the high-speed sections.

“On race pace they all seem very strong. We were strong too in FP2, but we changed the car,” he admitted. “It will be difficult to drive, but fast.” In this regard, car number 16 emphasized that taking this kind of risk was a deliberate choice by the team: “As long as it’s fast, that’s all that matters to me,” he concluded.

With nothing left to lose in 2025 and a point to prove after a rollercoaster season, expect Charles Leclerc to be one of the most attacking drivers on the grid when the lights go out. A podium would be the perfect way for both him and Ferrari to sign off the year – and he’s prepared to throw caution to the wind to make it happen.