
It was September 11, 2018. A week after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the Prancing Horse team made an important announcement. Starting next season, world champion Kimi Raikkonen would be replaced by a young Monegasque driver. This was how Charles Leclerc’s story with Ferrari began—full of hope for a team he had always loved. But today, the situation is dire, and Italian journalist Giorgio Terruzzi sounds the alarm.
In these seven years wearing red, Charles Leclerc has achieved far less than anyone expected—himself included. In 2019, he took his first wins, immediately endearing himself to Ferrari fans. But the first major setback came in the following two years. The car was uncompetitive, and Ferrari went 903 days without returning to the top step of the podium.
Charles Leclerc’s first real opportunity came in 2022. The first season under the new regulations saw the F1-75 performing like a rocket ship, with few able to keep up with the Monegasque. But as we all know, the situation turned out quite differently. Between problems and serious team errors, the title slipped away once again. The same happened in 2023, and came close to repeating itself again in 2024.
This season, based on the previous car’s performance, started with all the right expectations. But once again, the Maranello team disappointed. A slow, hard-to-drive car has brought the drivers to the lowest step of the podium only once (three times if you include sprint races).
So by accepting the offer from the team he dreamed of as a child, Charles Leclerc may have placed himself in the worst possible situation. Giorgio Terruzzi issues a warning on his podcast: if Charles Leclerc stays at Ferrari, he risks his career.
“There’s an issue that’s especially worrying for Charles Leclerc, and maybe for Norris too. The Monegasque risks, after seven years of mistreated hopes, shattered dreams, and serious errors, being overtaken by a generation of younger drivers who are performing like beasts. They cost the teams very little—or at least much less than him—and they’re doing incredible things. Kimi Antonelli is the most striking case, but there are many others.”
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