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Leclerc prioritised race wins over championship P2 ahead of Mexico

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-11-02GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

With five races remaining, Charles Leclerc said ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix that he wanted to chase victories rather than fixate on second in the drivers’ championship. He believed P2 could follow if Ferrari won.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Charles Leclerc went into the Mexican Grand Prix weekend with a clear priority: chase victories, rather than make second place in the drivers’ championship his main objective. Before the race, the Ferrari driver said he was “not obsessed” with P2 and wanted to maximise each of the season’s final five rounds. If Ferrari could win, he said, second place would take care of itself.

Leclerc also said P2 was better than P3 and that Ferrari would try to maximise what it could. Before Mexico, he stood fifth on 233 points, nine behind George Russell, who led the second-place group with 242. Lewis Hamilton was one point behind Russell, with Max Verstappen fourth on 236.

Leclerc had finished second in both Singapore and Austin. He felt Ferrari had momentum, but said the team faced strong rivals and did not have the pace to win every weekend. Silverstone was his only victory of 2026 to that point.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCECharles Leclerc reveals what he really wants from final five F1 races of 2026Motorsport.com F1