Charles Leclerc ended the 2024 Formula 1 season as one of the strongest performers on the grid, showing top-tier form and positioning himself as a serious contender heading into the new year. However, the early races of 2025 have painted a very different picture. Despite high expectations, the Monegasque driver has been unable to maintain the momentum that defined the end of his previous campaign.
At the season finale in Abu Dhabi last year, Charles Leclerc and then-teammate Carlos Sainz were within striking distance of securing Ferrari’s first Constructors’ Championship title since 2008. Leclerc delivered one of his most impressive drives in Formula 1, climbing from the back of the grid to finish on the podium. Yet, it was Lando Norris’ triumph that ultimately denied Ferrari the championship, leaving the Scuderia and its fans disappointed but hopeful.
With Lewis Hamilton now alongside him in red, Charles Leclerc entered the 2025 season optimistic that Ferrari could build on their late-season form and close the remaining gap to McLaren. However, those hopes began to fade early. Despite promising signs during pre-season testing, Ferrari’s performance quickly regressed when racing began in Australia, and their standing as the second-best team was soon in question. The situation deteriorated further in China, where a double disqualification marked the low point of the campaign so far. After four rounds, Ferrari languishes in fourth place in the standings, trailing McLaren by nearly 100 points.
Even when the Maranello team showed glimpses of potential in Bahrain—where both the Monegasque and the Briton achieved their best results of the season—the overall mood in the camp remained subdued. Charles Leclerc, in particular, expressed concerns following the race, revealing growing dissatisfaction with Ferrari’s car development and upgrade schedule.
Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, journalist Jon Noble explained that Ferrari may have already reached the upper limit of their car’s current capabilities. He recounted a post-race discussion with Leclerc in which the driver shared his view that Ferrari’s race strategy in Bahrain, while appearing competitive due to a tyre offset, masked the car’s fundamental shortcomings. According to Charles Leclerc, the SF-25 simply lacks the pace to fight consistently at the front and remains far from matching McLaren’s performance, especially in tyre management and raw speed.
Ferrari’s strategic move during the Bahrain GP—utilizing a different tyre approach and pitting under the safety car—initially hinted at the possibility of a stronger finish. However, a lack of available medium tyres forced the team to switch to the hard compound for the final stint, which significantly limited their competitiveness. Leclerc, rather than being encouraged by the result, viewed the tyre offset as misleading and made it clear that the car’s performance deficit remains significant.
When asked about the timeline for upgrades, the Monegasque driver reportedly expressed frustration, noting that Ferrari’s planned improvements would not arrive soon enough to change their fortunes in the immediate term. His reaction underscored the growing gap between expectations and reality for the Italian team.
The start of the 2025 Formula 1 season has been particularly disheartening for Charles Leclerc when compared to his previous years at Ferrari. Entering the new season, he had every reason to believe he could challenge not only the McLaren duo but also reigning champion Max Verstappen. However, those ambitions have yet to materialize, and for the first time since 2021, Ferrari has failed to secure a single podium finish in the first four races of the F1 campaign.
The contrast between Charles Leclerc’s dominant end to 2024 and his current struggles is stark. Ferrari’s inability to develop quickly enough and deliver the upgrades required to compete at the front has left their lead driver disillusioned. As the championship begins to slip further from their grasp, it is clear that the Scuderia must act swiftly if they are to recover—and if they wish to keep the Monegasque’s faith in the long term.
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