Leclerc: "We stay united" as Ferrari eyes a 2026 revival

Written by Kavi Khandelwal

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc arrived at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix weekend determined to end his challenging season on a high, insisting the team remains united despite a recent run of difficult races and mounting external pressure.

Credit: Formula One

The Monegasque driver opened the debrief with a statement of commitment, letting the reader step directly into the team's defiant mood.

"I mean, inside the team we are really united and really motivated to do something special. Of course, it's been a long time that I've been saying that we're trying to do something special and we didn't quite make it yet. But yeah, the most important thing is that we stay united and I really see us united and not too affected by what's going around the team."

A season of high hopes and harsh reality

Leclerc reflected on the emotional shift from the end of the previous season—where he was a top performer—to the struggles of the current year. The season, which included three victories but also a significant mid-year dip in performance, has taught him important lessons in perspective.

"It's been a particularly challenging season because second part of last year, we had the momentum with us. I think I was the driver with most points... So you get into the first part of this season with big hopes and then it's not exactly the way you want. But yeah, that's the way it's been this year and that doesn't demotivate me. So surely it's been a tough one, but I'm still trying to do something special before the end of the year, starting with this weekend."

The 2026 opportunity

With the 2025 season drawing to a close, much of the focus has shifted to the major 2026 regulation change. Leclerc confirmed that the team's resources have been dedicated to that project, fueling optimism for the future.

"I'm really motivated for next year, yes, because there's been so much work behind the scene and we know that we've stopped this year's development in the vision of next year and trying to be ahead of the others next year. I hope it will be the case. For sure, everybody is working extremely hard in order to prepare next year in the best possible way, because everyone knows that it's a big opportunity. But I think we are particularly looking forward to it because this year hasn't been so nice, and especially recently we are not fighting where we want to be. So I'm looking forward to next year as it's an opportunity for us to come back on top."

He concluded by stressing that the best approach remains internal focus and diligence, given the secrecy surrounding the rivals' 2026 development programs.

"I don't really want to spend energies in trying to understand where we are compared to others. The best thing I can do is to stay focused on the present moment, trying to do the best possible job in the simulator. And I hope that this will pay off next year."