Leclerc says Ferrari lacks pace to challenge for more F1 wins

Charles Leclerc sees Ferrari's preparation as a strength, but says the car still lacks the underlying performance needed to challenge more often for grand prix wins.

Strong simulator correlation helps Ferrari arrive at a circuit with a balanced car that Leclerc says feels comfortable to him. He does not believe a more “peaky” design would extract extra performance from the car.

Leclerc also questions whether Ferrari is particularly strong on Fridays. Its relative competitiveness in first practice may reflect the engine modes rivals are using, he said; by qualifying, those teams have something Ferrari currently lacks.

Ferrari's chassis is regarded as one of the grid's strongest, while its power unit trails Mercedes and Red Bull. The team introduced a new design at the Italian Grand Prix to address turbo size, opting for a smaller turbo intended to eliminate lag and improve low-speed drivability. The trade-off is top-end straight-line speed.

Ferrari's mid-season hopes of mounting a 2026 title challenge have faded, and it has not won a grand prix since Leclerc's British Grand Prix victory in July.