After Ferrari had taken the 2024 constructors’ championship to the wire, with just 14 points between it and eventual winner McLaren after the Abu Dhabi finale, Charles Leclerc expected big things from 2025. Of course, the attention was all on the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, but this suited the Monegasque just fine; he was free to get on with his preparations for the new season out of the limelight.
Ferrari felt that it had run out of road with last year’s SF-24, and took a more revolutionary approach to its 2025 car. A complete review of its suspension package was a calculated risk at Maranello, and one that ultimately didn’t pay off; it was difficult for the drivers to find consistency with the new SF-25. Through the year, the disappointment on Leclerc’s face became more and more palpable with each passing round, and the team’s decision to turn off the taps on development early on ensured that the new car was left underbaked.
Leclerc nonetheless gave everything in trying to draw results out of an oft-difficult package. On average, he was the fifth-best qualifier across the season, even taking a surprise pole in Hungary as the McLarens’ pace disappeared amid the changing wind direction. There were other front-row starts in Monaco, Austria and Mexico. Leclerc’s qualifying pace has never been in doubt, however.
He was also responsible for all of Ferrari’s GP podium finishes, and demonstrated a very clear edge over Hamilton from the get-go as the seven-time champion struggled to adapt. There was a flash of late-season performance at Austin and in Mexico, where Ferrari surprised itself with performance in lower-grip conditions, leading to Leclerc’s stellar defence against Lando Norris at the Circuit of The Americas. There was also the drive at Barcelona, where Leclerc suffered in qualifying but rocketed up to third, albeit after swapping places with Hamilton.
Arguably, Leclerc was the sole positive in Ferrari’s dismal year. His romantic ambition to be a champion with the Prancing Horse might only ever remain that, unless the team can begin 2026 all guns blazing.
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