Bold opener: Ferrari’s season ended in a nail-biting near-miss, and Charles Leclerc still believes the team can reclaim the summit next year. But here’s where it gets controversial: a few flashes of promise weren’t enough to mask a full season without a single Grand Prix win.
Charles Leclerc pushed hard in Abu Dhabi, finishing fourth as Ferrari closed a challenging campaign at Yas Marina. From the start, Leclerc wasted no time, climbing to fourth after overtaking George Russell and staying within DRS range of Lando Norris ahead. Norris needed a podium to clinch the championship, so Leclerc’s early pressure added real tension for the papaya crew. Yet an attempted undercut fizzled, allowing Norris to pull clear again.
That left Leclerc stranded in fourth for most of the race. He did have brief moments where he narrowed the gap to Norris, but never enough to reinsert himself into contention for a podium. While fourth is respectable, it underscored a season where Ferrari did not claim a race win, despite Leclerc securing one pole and seven podiums along the way.
After the race, Leclerc spoke candidly about his mix of effort and frustration: “I gave it everything and our team executed the race perfectly. Unfortunately, P4 was all there was in it today.” He acknowledged his desire to end the year on a high note with a podium for the team and supporters, but admitted that the result didn’t reflect the level of ambition heading into the finale.
The disappointment is palpable. The season yielded no Ferrari wins, though Hamilton did win a Sprint, and Leclerc finished fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. Still, Leclerc stressed the need for a break to recharge before refocusing on 2026, insisting Ferrari can reassert itself with the right steps and timing.
Ferrari ended the year fourth in the Constructors’ standings, a sign of inconsistent form across the season. The team did shift focus toward the 2026 car earlier than usual, reallocating resources in hopes of a stronger assault next year. Leclerc summarized the sentiment: despite a tough season, there remains substantial motivation and a clear opportunity ahead. He also noted that he outperformed his new teammate in points by a wide margin across the year, signaling a stable foundation as the team pivots to a new era of Formula 1.
Next steps for Ferrari include translating early-season momentum into sustained performance, optimizing strategy decisions, and harnessing the new regulations to reclaim top-tier competitiveness. The question on fans’ lips: will Ferrari convert the promise of 2025 into a championship-challenging 2026 campaign, or will the gaps widen again? Share your thoughts on whether the team’s pivot to 2026 is enough to spark a real title fight, and what strategic moves you’d like to see in the coming months.
