The Qatar Grand Prix was yet another thorn in the side for Charles Leclerc: the SF-25 struggled throughout the weekend, and no setup changes had a significant impact. A sluggish car on a track that limited overtaking made every session a nightmare, forcing drivers to constantly patch up the situation. While Lewis Hamilton left Lusail empty-handed, the number 16 managed to score a meager 2 points on Sunday, all while watching his peers fight for the World Championship and cars like the Alpine‘s rear end outperform him.
It is no secret that the Monegasque driver has an unconditional love for Ferrari, demonstrated by his willingness to stay despite several dark moments. Yet the lack of results in 2025 risks being the final blow to his loyalty. “Usually one of my strengths is being able to reset after each session, and I always arrive on Sunday fairly positive. Now, however, I have no hope,” Leclerc admitted to Mara Sangiorgio, even avoiding the question: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you want this season to end?”.
Such words of frustration resonate as a failure during a period when rumors of a potential move to Aston Martin are growing louder. According to reports from Italian journalists Franco Nugnes and Giorgio Terruzzi, Charles Leclerc has had serious contacts with Lawrence Stroll and will make a decision after the first races of 2026. The “Green Team” knows that attracting the right talent, like Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc himself, will depend on performance; for this reason, they have assembled an impressive technical team, with Adrian Newey’s promotion to team principal being the cherry on top. It is a difficult but necessary choice for the Monegasque, who risks remaining trapped in a golden prison at the cost of his career.
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