Charles Leclerc Breaks Jackie Stewart’s Historic F1 Record with Saudi Arabian GP Podium
Charles Leclerc delivered Ferrari’s first podium of the 2025 Formula 1 season with a composed third-place finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Starting from fourth on the grid, the Monegasque outperformed expectations with a crucial pass on George Russell and successfully defended against a late surge from Lando Norris to seal P3 in Jeddah. While Oscar Piastri claimed victory and Max Verstappen secured second, Charles Leclerc crossed the line over eight seconds behind the winner and five seconds behind the Red Bull driver—highlighting once again Ferrari’s ongoing pace deficit.
Despite the positive result, Ferrari continues to face major questions in 2025. Aside from Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint win in Shanghai, the Scuderia has struggled to find consistent performance from the SF-25. The Chinese Grand Prix ended in embarrassment for the team, with both drivers disqualified due to technical infringements. Hamilton, in particular, has faced a tough adaptation period, as he grapples with the grip issues that have plagued Ferrari’s 2025 challenger from the outset. Leclerc pointed out that these grip limitations have been a season-long theme and may help explain his teammate’s ongoing difficulties.
However, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix offered a rare highlight. Leclerc’s third-place finish was more than just a morale boost—it marked a historic moment in his Formula 1 career. By stepping onto the podium for the 44th time, he officially surpassed legendary driver Jackie Stewart on the all-time F1 podium list.
Charles Leclerc Surpasses Jackie Stewart’s F1 Podium Count with Strong Drive in Jeddah
Jackie Stewart, a three-time Formula 1 World Champion in 1969, 1971, and 1973, earned 43 podiums across 99 starts during a career that spanned the sport’s most perilous era. Until the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Stewart sat 20th in the list of all-time podium scorers in F1. But the Monegasque, who entered the weekend level with the Scottish icon on 43, used his strategic nous and clean driving to break that tie and move into sole possession of 20th place with 44 podiums—just one behind Ferrari legend Carlos Reutemann.
Hamilton, who continues to search for answers in the red car, reportedly expressed admiration for Leclerc’s ability to extract performance from the SF-25—a feat the seven-time world champion has yet to replicate, having finished a distant seventh in Saudi Arabia.
Charles Leclerc Also Equals Alonso’s Ferrari Podium Record
The podium tally of the 27-year-old Ferrari driver also allowed him to reach another milestone—matching Fernando Alonso’s total of 44 podiums for the Maranello team. The Spaniard raced for the Scuderia between 2010 and 2014, claiming 11 wins and narrowly missing out on the championship in 2010 and 2012. Though Fernando Alonso brought home several iconic performances during his time in red, his title ambitions were thwarted by Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull dominance.
Now, Charles Leclerc joins Fernando Alonso in fifth place on the Italian side’s all-time podium list. To climb higher, however, the Monegasque faces a monumental challenge—surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record of 116 podiums in red, a benchmark that may remain untouchable for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, Alonso’s current 2025 season with Aston Martin has been underwhelming. He failed to finish in the first two races and only became classified in the standings after the Japanese Grand Prix, with zero points to his name after five rounds.
As Ferrari look ahead to the upcoming races, Charles Leclerc’s form offers a glimmer of hope. While the team continues to chase performance improvements, his record-breaking achievement in Jeddah proves he remains a cornerstone of the Scuderia’s ambitions in a tightly contested 2025 Formula 1 season.
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