Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has reaffirmed his unwavering confidence in the team and his determination to bring the Italian team back to the top of motorsport.
Despite the high expectations placed on Ferrari at the beginning of the season, the team has fallen short of expectations, unable to compete with the dominant McLaren team.
Leclerc, who achieved three victories in 2024, has had to settle for a pole position and five podium finishes. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, won the sprint race in China, but hasn’t been on the podium on other occasions.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku could offer an opportunity to achieve a victory, although the attention of most teams has shifted to next season and the rule changes that promise to redefine the competitive landscape.
When asked how he stays motivated in such a season, Leclerc replied:
The driver added that the initial disappointment at not being at McLaren’s level was overcome by focusing on other goals, such as achieving a victory this year. Leclerc emphasized the importance of staying focused and not being influenced by external noise. He highlighted the need for Ferrari to concentrate on its own goals and improve its performance to return to the path of victory. The arrival of Hamilton, seven-time world champion, as a teammate and the fact that Ferrari was on the verge of beating McLaren in the constructors’ championship last season, generated great expectation. However, Ferrari has not won a Formula 1 championship since the constructors’ in 2008. Leclerc, who joined Ferrari in 2019, is accustomed to the emotions generated by the Italian team, with high expectations and disappointments. When asked if this will always be part of Ferrari’s history, he replied:Because I love this team so much, I think that’s the answer. I have always loved Ferrari and that’s where I get my motivation from, because I want to take Ferrari back to the top, no matter how long it takes, and I will absolutely do everything until I stop believing in the project.
Charles Leclerc
Leclerc also mentioned that in 2019, when he was young and everything was new, the expectation on him was very high. Since then, he has learned not to react to emotions and to stay focused on the work.I am not sure what the future holds, but I am sure that Ferrari will maintain its history and its iconic status, which obviously entails a lot of expectation and a lot of expectations, and it is up to us to manage it in a better way. I don’t think this should be in any way an excuse for not performing.
Charles Leclerc
