Ferrari focused on a key aspect of the SF-25: Leclerc admits where rivals are gaining ground
As the Formula 1 weekend in Austin approaches, the first comments from the drivers are starting to arrive. Charles Leclerc has expressed Ferrari’s determination to straighten out the course of the SF-25 in this final stretch of the season. Although the current comparison with Mercedes and Red Bull is far from easy, the Scuderia’s goal remains clear: securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
The race in Singapore turned out to be one to forget for the Maranello-based team. In recent rounds, their rivals have introduced new upgrades, and as a result, the red cars seem to be slipping toward the role of the fourth force on the grid. Last year, Ferrari celebrated a one-two finish at the Circuit of the Americas, and this year’s edition could represent a valuable opportunity to turn the page after a difficult spell.
Leclerc tries to lift the team’s morale
During media sessions ahead of the Austin Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc explained the direction of Ferrari’s ongoing work with the SF-25: “It’s disappointing to finish the last few races without a podium, but the same feeling is shared across the entire team. There’s a huge motivation to try to turn things around and achieve something special before the end of the season.”
The Monegasque driver continued: “We don’t have the same pure pace as McLaren or Red Bull, and even Mercedes are very strong right now. There isn’t a specific point on the track where we’re consistently losing time, but rather a bit everywhere,” Charles Leclerc said on Thursday in Austin. “They simply have more grip, and that’s exactly where we are working to improve.”
The comparison with rival teams
At this stage, the team from Brackley also seems to have solved its issues with high temperatures. The new rear wing introduced at Singapore has reignited discussions about flexibility, but in the meantime, the car has clearly taken a step forward compared to the competition. Red Bull, too, has benefited from several recent upgrades that allowed Max Verstappen to secure victories in Baku and Monza.
Ferrari, on the other hand, has chosen not to introduce any further updates in this phase of the championship, preferring instead to focus all development efforts on the 2026 project. “Maybe some teams are pushing a bit harder with upgrades at the end of the season,” Charles Leclerc admitted. “We’re thinking more about 2026, and I hope it’s worth it — but that also means the others have made progress that we haven’t yet achieved.”
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