Charles Leclerc skeptical about recreating Max Verstappen-style Suzuka victory. Charles Leclerc downplays Ferrari’s chances of repeating Max Verstappen’s 2025 Suzuka victory.

Following in Max Verstappen’s footsteps

The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix will go down in Formula 1 history for the extraordinary performance delivered by Max Verstappen. Driving a Red Bull that was clearly slower and less competitive than the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the Dutchman still managed to secure a remarkable victory, holding off the pressure from the two papaya cars lap after lap in a masterclass of defensive driving.

For Ferrari fans, the dream is that Charles Leclerc could replicate a similar feat this season behind the wheel of the SF-26. The hope is that the Scuderia might capitalize on its typically strong race starts to take the lead early and then find a way—on a circuit like Suzuka, where overtaking is notoriously difficult—to contain the seemingly superior pace of the Silver Arrows.

Leclerc remains skeptical

However, when asked about this possibility by Sky Sports journalist Mara Sangiorgio during the press conference ahead of the Suzuka weekend, Charles Leclerc appeared unconvinced about Ferrari’s chances of pulling off such an achievement.

“I think it’s a very different situation,” explained the Monegasque driver. “I believe that after the first free practice sessions we will already have a clear idea of where we stand compared to Mercedes. I don’t see characteristics that could drastically change what we have seen in the first two races,” Leclerc added. “So for now, I would say no.”

“Let’s wait and see what happens,” concluded Ferrari’s number 16. “There are still very long straights where we know Mercedes will be extremely strong, but it’s also true that this is a very twisty circuit in the first two sectors, so we hope to have a big enough advantage there to be quicker over the entire lap. But at the moment it seems unlikely, given the situation we have created for ourselves in the first two races.”

Charles Leclerc is therefore managing expectations as Ferrari heads into a critical weekend at Suzuka. Based on the content of his latest statements, the gap in straight-line speed to the Silver Arrows might prove too much for even his defensive skills to overcome. While the Tifosi hold onto the memory of Verstappen’s 2025 masterclass, Charles Leclerc remains grounded in the technical reality of the 2026 season.