“I had to keep pushing” – Charles Leclerc reflects on thrilling Japanese GP recovery. Charles Leclerc secures a hard-fought podium for Ferrari at Suzuka.

Leclerc: “We had to fight hard for the podium today. It was a positive race”

At the Suzuka Circuit, Charles Leclerc managed to climb onto the podium, claiming the third step after battling relentlessly with George Russell throughout the race. The Monegasque driver showcased several bold overtakes around the outside, both on his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes rival.

After stepping out of his SF-26, Leclerc was interviewed in the parc fermé. Speaking about the Grand Prix he had just contested, he said: “We had to fight a bit for the podium this time. With the Safety Car, we were a bit unlucky, but from that moment on I knew I would have to chase, especially compared to Kimi and Lewis. I told myself: ‘Okay, let’s keep pushing, preserve the tires, and see if we can make it to the end.’”

The Ferrari driver then concluded his interview by saying: “In hindsight, it wasn’t a disadvantage. The tires held up fairly well, only losing a few positions in the first laps after the Safety Car. Certainly, I lacked a bit to catch Oscar, but overall it was a positive race.”

Charles Leclerc’s performance at the 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix was therefore a display of tactical intelligence and raw bravery. Based on the content of his post-race interview, the Ferrari star remains optimistic about the car’s tire management capabilities, even if the raw pace isn’t quite at the level of the championship-leading Mercedes just yet.