Leclerc: Ferrari race wins would mean more than second in Constructors’ Championship

Charles Leclerc says winning races with Ferrari before the end of 2026 would bring him greater satisfaction than finishing second in the Constructors’ Championship. Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, he urged the team to pursue as many victories as possible, race by race.

Ferrari stood 105 points ahead of McLaren, while Red Bull had been closing on the top three and the fight for second could last until the end of the season. Leclerc said second was better than third and that pursuing wins would ultimately give Ferrari the runner-up spot. He said winning before the season’s end would also be a good sign for 2027.

Ferrari had scored a double podium in the Singapore Sprint, while Leclerc finished second behind Max Verstappen in the Grand Prix. He said Ferrari were pleased with their Singapore performance but still had steps to take. Leclerc also rejected Isack Hadjar’s claim that Ferrari had been the fastest team at Marina Bay and said Red Bull had improved over recent races.

Leclerc was confident Mercedes would, at some point, work through its new upgrades and return to its earlier level; he expected the same of McLaren and said he had heard it was bringing a significant package to Austin. He said the teams were close and the contest would turn on small details. “We’ve got to be the team that comes out on top,” he said.