The Formula 1 drivers’ championship remains the ultimate dream for nearly every young racer when they first step into a go-kart. Regarded by many as the highest achievement in motorsport, this year’s title fight appears to be a battle primarily between three contenders after seven races. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri currently leads, holding a 13-point advantage over teammate Lando Norris.
However, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen claim his second victory of the season, narrowing the gap to Piastri by 10 points thanks to significant upgrades on the Red Bull car, which now looks highly competitive once again.
For the rest of the drivers, the focus shifts back to development and adaptation, with new technical regulations set to arrive in 2026. Unless Mercedes or Ferrari introduce game-changing upgrades soon, many drivers face continued challenges in extracting top results from their cars.
This scenario raises questions about the future of several key F1 stars who have frequently found themselves in decent but ultimately uncompetitive machinery during their careers. Recently, Guenther Steiner suggested that one of the longest-standing driver-team relationships on the grid may need to end for the driver to finally secure his first world championship.
Steiner indicated that Charles Leclerc might need to move on from Ferrari to realize his championship ambitions. Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast’s “Gas or Brake” segment, Steiner was asked whether the statement “Charles Leclerc needs to leave Ferrari to win a world championship” was true or false. Guenther Steiner leaned towards agreeing, stating that Charles Leclerc requires a fresh challenge. He noted that Leclerc has been with Ferrari for a long time and sometimes change can be beneficial, citing Lewis Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari as an example.
Steiner acknowledged that routine can set in after a while and that the Monegasque’s current situation does not put him in a strong position to win a championship. He added that a move to another team might bring new opportunities, though he also warned that there is a risk of landing at the wrong team, as happened with Fernando Alonso at certain points in his career.
If Charles Leclerc were to leave Ferrari, the question arises: where might he go? The Monegasque is widely recognized as one of the fastest drivers on the grid, boasting eight race wins and 26 pole positions. At one point, pundit Martin Brundle even described him as the best qualifier in Formula 1, outperforming top drivers like Verstappen and Hamilton.
There was considerable optimism around Charles Leclerc’s chances for the 2025 season, especially since Ferrari ended the previous year as arguably the fastest team. Unfortunately, their winter developments have resulted in a significant performance drop, with Charles Leclerc having only one podium so far this year and sitting 85 points behind Piastri. Although Leclerc is under a long-term contract with Ferrari, uncertainty remains about how long he will stay loyal if the car’s performance does not improve next year.
Mercedes would likely be the most logical destination should Leclerc choose to depart Ferrari, given that George Russell and young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli are both approaching contract expiration. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen is frequently linked to a potential future move away from Red Bull, which could create an opening for Leclerc to step in as a replacement.
Despite the advice of the former Haas team boss, it seems unlikely that Leclerc will make a move at this moment, even if Ferrari continues to struggle in the upcoming races. The pressure is mounting, but Charles Leclerc’s commitment to the Scuderia may hold firm—for now.
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