Charles Leclerc: “It’s not a pleasant feeling” after the Singapore Grand Prix
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc expressed his disappointment after the Singapore Grand Prix, admitting that it is not a pleasant feeling to have to reassess expectations about the performance of the Ferrari car, while watching his rivals fight for victory. Ferrari has yet to achieve a victory in the 2026 season, while McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes have each won at least two races, and all three teams have secured victories after the summer break. George Russell gave Mercedes their second victory of the year at the Singapore Grand Prix, while Leclerc and his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, struggled to obtain sixth and eighth place, respectively, due to brake problems.A video of Leclerc having to lift and slide while being overtaken by the Mercedes driver, Kimi Antonelli, has gone viral since the end of the race.“From lap eight, it was basically about managing those brakes,” Leclerc said on Sunday. “It made our race very, very complicated.”
Charles Leclerc
Last year, Ferrari was resurging and competing with McLaren in the constructors’ championship. Ferrari took that battle to the last race of the year, where Lando Norris’ victory was enough for McLaren to cross the line.“Unfortunately, we don’t have the race car to fight with those in front,” Leclerc said on Sunday night. “McLaren has always had the same difference with us compared to the beginning of the year. Red Bull took a step from Monza and the same level as McLaren. Mercedes is now at the same level as McLaren and Red Bull, and then there’s us, and, obviously, it’s not easy, because you want to fight for better positions. But at the moment, it seems we are kind of passengers in the car and we can’t extract much more than what there is to save from what remains of the season.”
Charles Leclerc
But Ferrari hasn’t matched McLaren’s pace this season.
Leclerc tried to show a positive attitude about things when asked about his overall season.When asked if it’s difficult to handle the feeling of disillusionment from a year like 2025, he replied: “Yes, I mean, it takes a lot of energy, but that doesn’t demotivate me… it motivates me, if anything, much more to try to change the situation. But it is, I mean, it’s very hard, especially after a race like today, where you’re not even fighting for a podium, you have to manage a lot of problems. It’s simply not a pleasant feeling.”“I wouldn’t describe it as the most difficult season,” said Leclerc. “I think that every time you don’t fight for victories, it’s difficult, but obviously, coming from a year like last year, where you are fighting for the World Championship, the World Constructors’ Championship, and then you come here with high expectations. You have to lower your expectations from the beginning, and you don’t even see a progression throughout the year… It’s not easy”.
Charles Leclerc
