One of the most frequently discussed topics in Formula 1 continues to be the future of Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Former F1 driver Ivan Capelli addressed this subject in a recent interview, offering his perspective on what could lie ahead for the Monegasque driver.
After a somewhat challenging season, questions surrounding Charles Leclerc’s future at Ferrari have surfaced on several occasions. Various rumours even linked him to other teams, including Aston Martin. In a lengthy interview with fanpage.it, Ivan Capelli spoke in detail about what the 2027 season could look like for the Ferrari driver.
Charles Leclerc ended the 2025 season with seven podium finishes, but he never managed to go beyond second place. Ferrari’s only victory of the year came through Lewis Hamilton, who won the Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. However, the introduction of the new regulations could shuffle the competitive order and significantly alter the balance of power across the grid.
The future of car number 16
According to Ivan Capelli, a former driver with a past at Ferrari, Leclerc is a driver who truly makes the difference within the Scuderia: “Charles [Leclerc] is one of those drivers you want, both for his natural driving instinct and for his ability to get the setup right. Thanks also to his relationship with his engineer [Bryan Bozzi], he always manages to find that small solution that completely changes the story. Leclerc does his job, he makes the difference at Ferrari, and you suddenly find him ahead by half a second. And then you think, how is that possible? Why? How does he manage it? There is no answer.”
Leclerc has often proven that he can go beyond some of the car’s limitations, delivering strong performances even when the Ferrari has not been the outright reference on the grid.
However, according to Capelli, Leclerc’s future at Ferrari will depend entirely on what happens in 2026: “Leclerc will find himself at a very particular moment. If Ferrari performs well right from the start in 2026, then fine. Or at the very least, he will need to have the certainty that there are solid expectations for the following years. Otherwise, he may start thinking about something else.”
The former driver added: “If I were in his place, I would say that I don’t necessarily need a car that dominates the championship. Of course, I would like that, as Red Bull or Mercedes had in the past, but in quotation marks I would settle for a car that allows me to fight until the last race, and then I will add my own contribution. When you have a competitive car underneath you, you have more confidence. You can attempt certain overtakes around the outside, you can manage different types of manoeuvres. You do special things knowing that the car will respond.” Ivan Capelli concluded.
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