After the Baku round, the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship moves to another street circuit. The Singapore Grand Prix represents another opportunity for Ferrari to close the gap to the front and recover from the disappointment of the previous weekend in Azerbaijan. Charles Leclerc pointed out that McLaren remains the clear favourite for this race, but also noted that certain weather conditions could play to the advantage of the SF-25.
Leclerc: “We seem to be stronger when it’s hotter”
In Baku, Ferrari’s weekend had started with high hopes, especially after FP2 where both cars topped the timesheets. However, as the temperatures dropped, the competitiveness of the SF-25 declined sharply. “I don’t think we can expect miracles,” said Leclerc about Singapore. “I don’t think we were uncompetitive in Baku — we simply didn’t do a great job in qualifying. We didn’t put everything together and didn’t manage to complete a lap in Q3, but I wouldn’t say we expect to be stronger here. I think it should be quite similar to Baku. In fact, I have the feeling McLaren will have an even bigger advantage on a circuit like this. So, we might be a bit further away from them. However, compared to our main rivals, which are Mercedes, we should be in a slightly better position if the weather remains hot — and I believe it will.”
According to Charles Leclerc, heat will be the most decisive factor influencing performance until the end of the year, especially in the battle for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, which currently involves Mercedes, Ferrari and a rejuvenated Red Bull after their recent upgrades. “I think we’re in a very different situation compared to last year,” Charles Leclerc said. “To put it simply, Mercedes seem to be very strong when it’s cold, and we seem to be stronger when it’s hot. So, looking at the remaining races, I hope the conditions are as hot as possible. That will probably influence performance more than any other characteristic of the circuits. This weekend should be hot, and we need to treat it as an opportunity to close the gap slightly to them.”
Speaking of the heat, the FIA has issued a warning for the Singapore Grand Prix, as temperatures could exceed 31°C despite the race being held at night. It could therefore be the first occasion where teams use cooling vests designed for drivers’ comfort. “I haven’t changed my physical preparation for the weekend,” said Charles Leclerc. “I do some specific things for Singapore, but my goal is always to be in the best possible shape from the first to the last race. We do sauna sessions before Singapore to help with heat adaptation. The only new thing, based on what the FIA has announced, is that we now have the option to wear cooling vests. It’s something we’ll consider during practice in case it gets too hot in the car. I don’t expect this weekend to be tougher than last year — and last year was already extremely hot and demanding, but still manageable.”
Ferrari’s remaining hopes of victory in 2025
After the disappointment in Baku, Ferrari’s chances of securing a race win this season are slim. A surprise result cannot be ruled out, as demonstrated in Budapest, where Charles Leclerc took pole position and battled on equal terms with the McLarens for half the race. However, the Monegasque admits that repeating such a performance will be difficult. “Hungary was a session that I still find hard to explain. There were variations of seven tenths between Q1, Q2 and Q3, and nobody really understood why. Taking pole in such a session was great, but I don’t expect similar conditions this weekend. So, it’s unlikely — but I’ll do everything to make it happen again. It would be amazing, but probably unrealistic.”
Looking ahead to the remaining races of the season, Charles Leclerc’s optimism remains limited. McLaren continues to be the team to beat, both in terms of pace and car characteristics, and Ferrari’s best chance of victory may come in Las Vegas. “A win is very unlikely,” he admitted. “Unfortunately, McLaren are also very strong in hot conditions. So compared to our main rivals, Mercedes, we might be stronger in those races, but against McLaren, I don’t think we’ll be able to beat them. That said, never say never. I’m curious to see where we’ll stand this weekend. Perhaps another opportunity could come in Las Vegas, where the track is so unpredictable and tyre management can play a big role. Maybe there will be a chance — but very few, less than the percentage I gave earlier when talking about Verstappen’s title chances (20%). So, rather unlikely.”
A disappointing season
Speaking about a 2025 season that began with much higher expectations following Ferrari’s second place in last year’s Constructors’ standings, Charles Leclerc admitted that the entire team is disappointed with its performance so far. “We’re all disappointed as a team,” he said. “With Ferrari, the goal is always to return to the top, not to fight for second, third or fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. That’s not what we want. We’re not happy and we must do better — that’s very clear to everyone within the team.”
The Monegasque driver once again highlighted the major step forward made by McLaren — and, to a lesser extent, the progress Red Bull appears to have achieved. “Honestly, if I knew exactly what we were missing, it would be an easy job,” he admitted. “It’s not that simple, but what I can say is that Mercedes, Red Bull and ourselves have made more or less the same step forward from last year to this one. However, there’s one team that found something special — and that’s McLaren. Now it’s up to us to understand what they’ve done so differently to bridge this gap. I think Red Bull has probably found part of the solution — we’ve seen that in the last few races. Mercedes and we haven’t found it yet, but we’re working on it. We know which areas to improve, but finding the way to get there is another story. There’s still a lot of work to do to understand and find the right solutions. McLaren have made a step that no one else has.”
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