In a candid analysis after the Singapore Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc expressed his frustration with Ferrari’s current performance. The Monegasque driver admitted that the situation is not ideal, especially seeing rivals fight for victory while his team faces challenges.
A Hard Blow for Ferrari
Leclerc, who finished in sixth position, highlighted the difficulties he experienced during the race, mainly related to the brakes. “From lap eight, basically, it was about managing those brakes. It made our race very, very complicated,” Leclerc commented. The situation worsens when comparing Ferrari’s performance with that of its competitors. While McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes have achieved victories, Ferrari has yet to reach the top of the podium in 2026. Mercedes driver George Russell took the victory in Singapore, while Leclerc and his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, fought to stay in the points.
Leclerc was direct in assessing Ferrari’s situation. “McLaren has always had the same difference with us compared to the beginning of the year. Red Bull took a step forward from Monza and is at 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, we feel like we are passengers in the car and can’t extract much more than what there is to save from the rest of the season,” he explained. The driver also spoke about managing expectations and the emotional impact of a difficult season. “I wouldn’t describe it as the most difficult season. I think every time you don’t fight for victories, it’s difficult, but obviously, coming from a year like the past, 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 start, and you don’t even see a progression throughout the year… It’s not easy.” When asked about the difficulty of managing the disappointment of a season like 2025, Leclerc replied: “Yes, I mean it requires a lot of energy, but that doesn’t demotivate me… it motivates me, in any case, much more to try to change the situation. But it is, I mean, it’s very hard, especially after a race like today’s, where you’re not even fighting for a podium, you have to manage a lot of problems. It’s simply not a pleasant feeling.”Unfortunately, we don’t have the car to fight with those at the front.
Charles Leclerc
