Charles Leclerc, widely regarded as Ferrari’s brightest talent, joined the Scuderia in 2019 after a single season with Sauber. While expectations for the Monegasque driver were sky-high, his career trajectory with Ferrari has not always aligned with the hopes of fans and pundits alike.
Replacing Kimi Raikkonen and forming a partnership with Sebastian Vettel in 2019, Leclerc quickly proved himself as a competitive force within Ferrari. He claimed two race victories that season, showcasing both his exceptional qualifying pace and his capacity to challenge the frontrunners on race day. These early successes highlighted his natural speed, composure, and racing intelligence, earning him recognition as one of Formula 1’s rising stars.
Despite his qualifying brilliance, Charles Leclerc’s ability to translate pole positions into race wins has remained inconsistent. Across his 27 career poles, he has converted only five into victories. While he has demonstrated championship-winning potential, he has yet to secure a drivers’ title for Ferrari, finishing runner-up just once in 2022 to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Operational errors, strategic missteps, and occasional on-track mistakes have contributed to this gap between potential and reality.
Leclerc’s frustrations grow amid Ferrari’s 2025 struggles
The 2025 season has further amplified Charles Leclerc’s frustrations. Ferrari’s SF-25 has struggled to reach an optimal performance window, with persistent issues in ride height and understeer affecting both Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton. These technical challenges have prevented the team from consistently challenging Mercedes and other rivals for podium finishes. So far, Charles Leclerc has secured all five of Ferrari’s podiums in 2025, underlining his importance to the team, while Hamilton has yet to match these results, risking a rare season without a single podium in his career.
Ferrari had hoped to mount a stronger challenge against McLaren in 2025, after finishing just 14 points behind them in 2024. However, ongoing technical difficulties have effectively ended the team’s title ambitions, leaving them fighting sporadically for podiums rather than consistently challenging at the front. Leclerc’s patience is being tested, as he faces another season without a realistic chance to end Ferrari’s championship drought, which has persisted since 2007. The Monegasque driver is reportedly frustrated with his modest tally of victories, having achieved just eight wins in seven years with Maranello, according to a report from Blick.
Could Charles Leclerc consider leaving Ferrari amid F1 interest?
While Charles Leclerc is under contract with Ferrari until 2029, making him the longest-tenured driver on the current grid, his long-term future with the Scuderia may not be guaranteed. Reports suggest that exit clauses in his contract could allow him to leave as early as 2026. With teammate Lewis Hamilton also potentially departing if he does not renew his contract for 2027, Ferrari could face significant changes in its driver lineup.
Sources close to Charles Leclerc have reportedly indicated that he could explore opportunities with other top F1 teams, with Mercedes among the potential options. The Silver Arrows are expected to retain George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 season, though contract durations have not been publicly confirmed. Max Verstappen’s manager has suggested that Toto Wolff may be in discussions with Charles Leclerc regarding a possible move. Ferrari will need to provide a highly competitive car in 2026 to convince the 27-year-old driver to remain, as retaining the Monegasque star is increasingly critical for the team’s championship ambitions.
As Charles Leclerc continues to chase his first world championship with Ferrari, his career remains a story of immense talent tempered by challenges on and off the track. The next season, combined with the introduction of new technical regulations in 2026, will likely prove decisive in shaping the Monegasque driver’s legacy at Maranello and his standing in Formula 1 history.
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