Charles Leclerc is the same age as Max Verstappen, with both drivers approaching their 28th birthdays in the autumn. But while one driver has won four world championships and is pursuing a fifth, the other is still waiting.
Leclerc has been called the fastest driver in F1 in terms of raw speed. While that’s up for debate, he’ll justifiably feel that his record doesn’t reflect his talent.
His tally of 46 podiums ranks him inside the all-time top 20, but he’s only joint-39th for wins (eighth). Ferrari have yet to provide him with a car that can contend for the whole season.
Helmut Marko says Leclerc could have won the 2022 title, but Red Bull appeared to overtake Ferrari midway through the year. Aside from that, there have only been occasional victory opportunities, with the Monegasque primarily targeting the top three.
Up to this point, there has been little suggestion that he’s lost faith in the Scuderia. But this year, after they slipped from the precipice of glory to a distant second behind McLaren, that confidence is being tested.
Charles Leclerc will consider Ferrari future if they don’t deliver in 2026
Leclerc, as noted by Motorsport Italia’s Roberto Chinchero, loves Ferrari. He’s achieved his ‘dream’ of racing for the iconic brand, and he’d love nothing more to deliver a title to Maranello.
But he also knows that he can’t keep waiting forever. Nico Rosberg is the only driver in the 21st century to win a maiden championship in his 30s.
According to BBC Sport, Leclerc has an exit clause in his contract that becomes active in 2026. Chinchero has hinted he could activate it to escape a ‘golden prison’ if next year’s car doesn’t meet expectations.
The regulation changes theoretically offer an opportunity to Ferrari, but they struggled in 2014, the last time there was a revolution of this scale.
“This is one of the many responsibilities Ferrari will have in 2026,” Chinchero explained. “The 2026 car will decide many things for the future of Ferrari.
“That car will determine many choices, including whether Leclerc will stay at Maranello. If the car is competitive, I think there will be no reason for Leclerc to change squad. Leclerc loves Ferrari.
“But it could become a golden prison – you have realised a dream of becoming a Ferrari Formula 1 driver, you have achieved worldwide fame, you have become very wealthy, but you see others win.
“After a while, this can be a cause for frustration. If the car doesn’t go well, everything will collapse.”
Lewis Hamilton has already sent a warning to Ferrari engineers about next year
It’s been reported that Hamilton is pushing Ferrari to focus on 2026. He views 2025 as a write-off after they fell nearly 200 points adrift of McLaren.
Many Ferrari engineers agree that they should accept short-term pain to improve their prospects next year. Hamilton knows that they could be at a lasting disadvantage if they devote too many resources to the troublesome SF-25.
Team principal Fred Vasseur is still holding out hope. If Leclerc decisively commits to Hamilton’s side, though, the pressure may be too great.
Leclerc signed a new deal in 2024 that could run until the end of 2029. But he negotiated the 2026 clause for a reason – he wants to see if he can achieve his ambitions at Ferrari before completely tying himself down.
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