Charles Leclerc spoke during the press conference for the Abu Dhabi GP 2025, detailing how Ferrari has understood the problems experienced in Qatar and what the team still needs to do as it prepares for the 2026 season.
The Monegasque driver for Scuderia Ferrari addressed a wide range of topics during the press conference, including the team’s expectations for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He shed light on the issues that troubled the SF-25 in Qatar and explained what Ferrari still needs to achieve in preparation for 2026. Here are the key statements from Charles Leclerc.
A challenging season for Charles Leclerc
For the #16 driver of the Prancing Horse, the 2025 season has been far from simple. While Charles Leclerc has made tremendous progress in several areas, the results on the track have unfortunately not reflected the effort put in. Ferrari decided to halt major development of the SF-25 after the first three or four races, realizing that the gap to McLaren was not recoverable. The engineers in Maranello preferred to focus their attention on the 2026 car very early in the season. The Monegasque hopes that this strategic “bet” will pay off as the team enters the new regulatory cycle.
Leclerc on Qatar and preparation for 2026
Charles Leclerc said: “In Qatar it was a difficult weekend, yes. However, we understood what happened, but having a solution is another story. We have an idea, but not a 100% solution. I’m optimistic that here we will get back to where we need to be. The problems were amplified by a track that wasn’t very friendly, but ultimately it depended on us. We hope to be able to make changes here in Abu Dhabi. The season? Personally, I am satisfied with my work, but the performance and results do not make me happy. As a team, we did well in our on-track work. What we lack for next year is the pace of the car. This year we focused early on the next car. Hopefully it will be a winning bet. These regulations have been very difficult. Back at the factory, people were often surprised that bringing an upgrade to the track did not work as expected.”
Thoughts on the drivers’ championship battle
Finally, Charles Leclerc offered his perspective on who might win the Drivers’ Championship between Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and his own role in the battle: “I don’t know, I have changed my mind so many times! I thought it would be Oscar, then I thought Max. Now Lando, 12 points are significant, so if nothing happens to Lando, he will take them. I don’t know how competitive we will be this weekend; we expect a strong McLaren here, then Red Bull and Mercedes. I would prefer to win the race and have nothing to do with how they fight for the championship, but if I finish second, third, fourth — 3rd, 4th… whoever is behind, I will drive the same way. It’s up to them.”
Clear, honest and focused – Charles Leclerc has already turned the page to 2026, where Ferrari’s big early-season gamble will either pay off spectacularly or leave more questions to answer.
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