Charles Leclerc’s strong return to form has once again placed him at the centre of Ferrari’s Austrian Grand Prix weekend, with the Monegasque driver showing the kind of pace that had seemed harder to read in recent races. After a sequence of complicated sessions and missed opportunities, his latest performance has prompted renewed discussion over whether he has finally rediscovered confidence behind the wheel of the Ferrari.
Juan Pablo Montoya welcomed the step forward, pointing out that it was encouraging to see Charles Leclerc back at a competitive level after what had appeared to be a difficult period. “It’s good to see Charles back on pace because he was struggling,” Montoya said, reflecting the impression many observers had formed from the outside.
However, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was quick to challenge that interpretation. According to the Frenchman, the concern surrounding Charles Leclerc’s pace had been exaggerated, especially by those analysing the situation from outside the garage.
“It’s for you, journalists, who were a bit worried, because I was not,” Fred Vasseur said. “In Monaco, he was fighting for the podium, he was two tenths in advance compared to Max. When he crashed in Barcelona, he was on a good lap. The pace was always there.”
Ferrari insists Charles Leclerc’s speed never disappeared
Fred Vasseur’s message was clear: Ferrari never believed Charles Leclerc had lost his speed. While results may not always have reflected his true potential, the internal data apparently told a different story. From the team’s perspective, the issue was not a lack of performance from the driver, but rather a combination of circumstances, execution and missed opportunities that made his recent run look more negative than it really was.
Monaco remains a key example. Although the final result did not fully reward Charles Leclerc, Fred Vasseur pointed out that the Ferrari driver had been fighting for the podium and had shown strong pace compared to Max Verstappen before his weekend unravelled. Barcelona told a similar story, with the Monegasque pushing hard on what Ferrari believed was a promising qualifying lap before the crash ended his attempt.
This is why Vasseur’s reaction was so firm. In Formula 1, external narratives can change quickly, especially when a driver goes through a few difficult weekends. But inside a team, the judgement is usually based on telemetry, sector times, tyre usage, simulator correlation and the driver’s feedback. By those measures, Ferrari appears convinced that Charles Leclerc remained fully competitive throughout.
A timely boost for Ferrari’s 2026 campaign
Charles Leclerc’s latest performance comes at an important moment for Ferrari. The SF-26 has been improving through recent upgrades, and the team needs both drivers operating at their highest level to keep pressure on Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren. With Lewis Hamilton already delivering strong results in red, Ferrari can ill afford to have one side of the garage perceived as underperforming.
For that reason, the 28-year-old’s response in Austria carries more weight than a single qualifying result. It helps restore momentum, reinforces confidence inside the team and gives Ferrari another strong reference point as it continues to develop the car. The Monegasque driver has always been known for his qualifying speed, and when the car gives him the right balance, he remains one of the most dangerous drivers over a single lap.
Montoya’s comments may have reflected the mood among many fans, but Fred Vasseur’s answer underlined Ferrari’s internal conviction: Charles Leclerc was never missing pace. The results may have been inconsistent, but the speed was still present. Austria simply offered a clearer reminder of it.
As Ferrari continues its push in the 2026 Formula 1 season, that could prove crucial. If Charles Leclerc can convert this renewed momentum into consistent race performances, Ferrari will have a much stronger platform to challenge at the front and keep its championship ambitions alive.
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