Leclerc: Next year will be a crucial year

Leclerc was speaking at the end of the winless season for the Italian team, who struggled with an ill-conceived SF-25, which they also decided to give up on early in the season, around April, to focus on their 2026 challenger, which will be built according to new chassis and power unit regulations.

Both Leclerc and his new teammate, Lewis Hamilton, struggled with the SF-25, the latter more so in his first season with the Reds.

The seven-time F1 Champion ended the 2025 season without a single podium, his Sprint win in China the only highlight of an otherwise painful season, which he spent hitting low after low, be it in qualifying or races.

Leclerc, on the other hand, visited the podium seven times in 2025, but he could not win once, let alone challenge for the Championship.

The only time Leclerc seemed like a Championship contender was early in 2022, briefly, when Ferrari emerged as Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing's main challengers before they faded away as that season progressed.

But does Leclerc believe Ferrari can provide him with a car that would enable him to fight for wins and maybe a title? He said: "I do, and next year will be a crucial year.

"The whole team is hugely motivated for next year because it's such a big change, a huge opportunity to show what Ferrari is capable of.

"It's now or never, so I really hope that we will start this new era on the right foot, because it's important for the four years after.

"By race six or seven, I think we'll have a good idea of who are the teams that will be dominating for the four years after," the Monegasque predicted.

As for the season he left behind, Leclerc said: "It's tough; whether it's the toughest or not, I don't know. I tend to forget those negative emotions as quickly as possible.

"So I don't know if it's the worst one, but for sure it's a very disappointing one," he concluded.

Leclerc finished the 2025 season fifth in the Drivers' Standings, while Hamilton was sixth. Ferrari ended their campaign fourth in the Constructors' Standings.

(Quotes from Motorsport.com)