Charles Leclerc has reiterated his ambition to secure the Formula 1 World Championship with Ferrari during the current 2026 season, stating that there are ‘no excuses’ for failing to adapt to the new technical regulations. The Monegasque driver recently extended his multi-year contract with the Scuderia.
Leclerc’s primary objective for the 2026 campaign remains to clinch his maiden Formula 1 world title in red. He has consistently expressed this goal, viewing the significant technical regulation changes as a crucial opportunity for Ferrari to return to championship contention.
Ferrari made a strategic decision to shift its development focus to the 2026 car as early as April 2025. This move, while impacting their 2025 season, was a calculated gamble aimed at optimising their performance under the new rules.
The team has demonstrated a notable performance upturn this season. Lewis Hamilton secured his first victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, followed by Leclerc’s triumph at Silverstone.
Ferrari emerged as the highest-scoring team at both Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. This occurred despite expectations that these engine-sensitive circuits would expose their power unit’s deployment deficit compared to Mercedes.
Leclerc currently holds third position in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 56 points. Ferrari occupies second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Addressing the challenges of the new 2026 cars, Leclerc recently stated that pushing to the absolute limit is less rewarding due to energy wastage from wheelspin. He acknowledged this affects all drivers.
‘This isn’t just about me personally. It affects everyone, and because of that, we don’t have many excuses. We just have to deal with what we are given and maximize what we have.’
Leclerc admits he is ‘not driving completely naturally’ with the current regulations and continues to work on adapting his driving style. He noted that he still needs to ‘drive around’ certain aspects of the car.
Team Principal Fred Vasseur maintains a disciplined, race-by-race approach, refraining from championship discussions despite recent successes. Ferrari is currently competing at the Hungarian Grand Prix, having topped Friday practice sessions.
