Charles Leclerc really hopes the sacrifice in F1 2025 pays off in 2026, as he notes that by round six or seven, there will be an understanding of an order.
Already in April of F1 2025, Ferrari decided to halt much work on last year’s car and start their focus on 2026 and its build work. They had no significant updates in latter part of 2025, which really hurt them, much to their own surprise in terms of the struggles they faced.
The morale was down for both Leclerc and in particular Lewis Hamilton, who had a tough start to his stint with Ferrari. But their hope is not to get the reward of the sacrifice made, as the Monegasque notes that it will be a crucial year for him and the team in 2026.
“A lot for sure, and that’s why I think the second half of 2025 was not a surprise that it was a lot harder compared to our competitors,” said Leclerc to media. “I really hope that that will pay off in 2026, as obviously this was on the with a vision of trying to work harder for 2026 and having all our resources trying to, yeah, anticipate. So I really hope that this will pay off.
“And 2026 will be a crucial year,” summed up Leclerc. For now, the Monegasque has no idea where the rivals are at. He can only focus on the he and Ferrari can do. But he feels that by rounds six and seven, they will an idea of where everyone stands and how it will be for the upcoming regulations.
“I have no idea, we don’t know where others are at,” continued Leclerc. “There are so many unknowns. So I would rather not speak and wait for 2026 in the first few races and see where we are. And in the meantime, just focus on the project and try to work in the best possible way and we’ll see.
“Yeah, I think it will be, yes, maybe not the first three or four races, but by race six, seven, I think we’ll have a good idea of who are the teams that will be dominating for the four years after. So, yeah,” summed up Leclerc, who will hope for a title charge finally to live his dream of a world championship.
Here’s 2026 race suits of Ferrari: https://x.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/2013268238549819500?s=20
https://x.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/2013259583880311202?s=20
Here’s Oliver Bearman on no talks of Ferrari
Here’s news on race engineer change of Lewis Hamilton
