With Ferrari’s iconic line up of Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and recently extended team principal Fred Vasseur, the team is looking good for 2026 when Formula 1 enters its new era of regulations. During the 2025 season, Ferrari has struggled massively to get both driver’s up on the podium due to the car being difficult to set up. However according to Leclerc, the focus lies elsewhere.
There have been many races this season where Ferrari have failed to reach Q3 or struggled to get good points for both drivers. As the season goes on it looks like they have found a rhythm and setup where both drivers can do their thing and score for the team. Nevertheless, the one thing they want hasn’t happened so far this season, reaching the very top step.
Charles Leclerc has a clear goal for Ferrari for 2026 and beyond
Following a Constructor’s Championship battle that went all the way to the final race of the 2024 season, Ferrari have definitely lost some pace compared to McLaren this year. The Italian outfit is in 2nd place at the moment but have less than half the amount of points of McLaren who are dominating the field. During Thursday’s Press Conference at Hungary, Leclerc reveals where the focus lies for next year:
“For now my only focus is to try and bring Ferrari back to the top. I am happy with how I am performing right now. It is too early to judge [me against Lewis] as he is still learning a new team.”
While Charles Leclerc notes that it’s still early days in Leclerc v Hamilton at Ferrari, they are only separated by 30 points. This indicates that Lewis can definitely keep up even despite not having a podium so far this season. When shifting towards the 2026 season, Leclerc elaborated on what Ferrari needs to do to get back to their former glory:
“Next year will be a big turning point for us as it is a new era. If you don’t start on the right foot, it is difficult to come back. So, we will have to start on the right foot and then see.”
Ferrari haven’t won any championships since the 2008 season when they last won the Constructor’s Championship. They also haven’t won any races or gotten pole position since Mexico last year, courtesy of Carlos Sainz.
The next era of competition for Ferrari
When talking about the next season, the matter of leadership is very important. The communication between the driver, the engineer, and the design department is vital to building a fast, stable car that can challenge your rivals. Hours before the Press Conference on Thursday, Ferrari announced that Fred Vasseur signed a multi-year contract to extend his stint as Team Principal. Leclerc touched on that as well:
“The way Fred makes a difference is his overall vision, and that is very, very important.”
🔴| Fred Vasseur renews his contract with Ferrari on a multi-year deal!#F1 #Ferrari
(We know we’re a bit late with the news) https://t.co/AHGz9KrCJf
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) July 31, 2025
We will have to wait and see what Ferrari can whip up for the next season, but for now, there are 11 races left in the 2025 season where there are points to be scored and races to be won. What do you think? Will we see Charles Leclerc finally fight for a Formula 1 World Championship? Will Hamilton get the chance to get his elusive 8th title? Can Ferrari fight their way back to the top like it did in the days of old? Leave your predictions in the comments.
