(Motorsport-Total.com) – Charles Leclerc recently emphasized in a podcast that Ferrari has made “good progress with the car” during the Formula 1 break between Japan and Miami. The 28-year-old spoke about the development of the car in the Podcast BSMT.
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“I think we’ve made good progress with the car,” said the Monegasque. “I think we have a good car. I’m enjoying it right now. The team is doing a good job with the updates, the engineers are doing a fantastic job. And I’m having a lot of fun driving.”
Regarding the competitiveness of the SF-26, Leclerc commented as follows: “We have what it takes to be competitive. The car allows me to develop. I have the pace, there’s pace [in the car], now it’s up to me. I need to seize such opportunities, stay consistent, not make mistakes, and I believe if I can do that, then I can keep up.”
Leclerc further emphasizes: “The championship is long, and factors like strategy or luck change over time. It’s important to focus on the things you can control, your performance and your consistency. I think that if you are consistent enough, you can also be at the front in the end. That’s exactly what we’re trying to implement.”
After three races, things don’t look too bad for Leclerc in the championship standings. With 49 points, he occupies third place in the championship table and is the first non-Mercedes in the classification. At the same time, the 2026 Silver Arrow is undoubtedly considered the benchmark of the field.
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Nevertheless, Leclerc believes: “Yes, I think we can fight for the title. If we have the pace and if we implement it well, then yes, we can fight for it.”
Ferrari last won a world championship in 2008, back then “only” in the Constructors’ Championship. In 2007, the Maranello team achieved its last double, with Kimi Räikkönen as Drivers’ World Champion. Should the Ferrari driver’s optimism be confirmed, 2026 would mark Ferrari’s first triumph in almost twenty years.
Leclerc particularly praises the collaboration with his team: “I work very well with my engineer. We are on the same wavelength, we understand each other wonderfully, and that is crucial.”
In this regard, the Monegasque possibly enjoys an advantage compared to Lewis Hamilton. His teammate had to get used to a completely new environment last year after over a decade at Mercedes.
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