The 2025 Formula 1 season has proven to be a challenging period for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari. Despite entering the year with high expectations following their near-constructor’s title success in 2024, only missing out by 16 points. Leclerc’s 2025 season currently has him fifth in the standings with 119 points at the season’s halfway point, a substantial 115 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
A catastrophic start in Australia
Ferrari arrived in Melbourne with slight optimism about their SF-25 package, believing they had once again developed a championship contending car. Charles Leclerc’s 2025 season seemed promising during testing. Leclerc was in the top 4 the first two sessions before falling to 9th on the last day of testing.
Leclerc’s 2025 season began with him qualifying 7th on the grid for the Australian GP after topping the second practice session of the year and 3rd and 4th in the other two. With the early promising pace, Leclerc was expected to go and challenge for a podium. However, race day proved opposite with a result that set the tone for much of the season ahead.
Leclerc finished the season opener in 8th. In his post race interview, he acknowledged his spin as his own mistake, Leclerc also pointed to the team’s strategic failings, setting a pattern of shared responsibility that would become familiar throughout the season. The result was far from the championship statement Ferrari had hoped to make, instead raising immediate questions about both car performance and operational execution.
China disqualification exposes fundamental issues
The Chinese Grand Prix initially appeared to offer redemption for Ferrari, with Leclerc battling to 5th position after qualifying 6th. However, what should’ve been a steady points-scoring result transformed into a technical and procedural nightmare that exposed fundamental flaws in Ferrari’s attention to detail.
The disqualification revelation was particularly damaging due to its technical specifics. Leclerc’s car weighed exactly 800kg, the minimum requirement, when initially weighed after the race. Given that his front wing was damaged in early contact with his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, his car was reweighed and dropped to a weight of 799kg after fuel was drained from the car.
This technical failure represented more than just a procedural error. It highlighted Ferrari’s struggle to manage the fine margins that separate success from failure in modern Formula 1. The fact that Hamilton’s car suffered the same fate only compounded the embarrassment, suggesting systemic issues within the team’s technical preparation and attention to detail.
Some momentum provides hope
The middle portion of the season offered glimpses of Leclerc’s true potential when equipped with a more competitive package. His breakthrough came at the Saudi Arabian GP where he claimed his first podium of the year. The result came through smart strategic thinking, running a longer opening stint until lap 29, ultimately resisting pressure from Lando Norris in the closing stages. The podium represented not just valuable championship points but also a boost for both Leclerc and the team after a difficult start to their 2025 campaign.
Monaco provided another emotional highlight with Leclerc finishing second at the Monaco GP, his home race. Despite the disappointment of missing victory, he acknowledged the result was above their expectations for the weekend. The performance demonstrated both his ability to extract maximum performance from a difficult car and his growing maturity in managing expectations while maintaining competitive drive.
Additional podium positions in Spain and Austria further reinforced the impression that Leclerc could still compete at the highest level when Ferrari provided him the necessary tools. These podiums are Leclerc’s 2025 season highs so far, and while not championship challenging they restored some confidence and proved that both driver and team retained the fundamental speed needed to compete at the top.
Silverstone disaster strikes
The latest race, the British GP, proved to be another low point in Leclerc’s campaign, though this time the problems manifested differently. The weekend’s practice sessions had shown promise.
Leclerc was within the top 4 during Friday’s running and topped FP3 Saturday morning. The Monégasque was tipped for pole position. Then qualifying arrived. Leclerc managed just sixth place, finishing behind teammate Lewis Hamilton. His radio outburst afterwards revealed the depth of his frustration.
Sunday offered no redemption. The Monégasque took a risk at the beginning of the race, opting for slick tyres instead of the majority preferred inters the rest of the field had. Leclerc struggled throughout the race and ended the race in a 2025 season low of 14th.
The Hamilton dynamic
Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari represented one of the season’s most significant storylines, creating a fascinating dynamic between two drivers at very different stages of their careers. The early phase of their partnership saw Charles Leclerc appear to have the upperhand, demonstrating superior knowledge about the Ferrari car while Hamilton adapted to the SF-25’s characteristics.
However, as the season has progressed, Hamilton’s experience and adaptability have become increasingly evident. The seven-time world champion has gradually closed the gap to his teammate, currently trailing by just 16 points (119 to 103) in their internal championship battle. This narrowing margin has created additional pressure on Leclerc, who was expected to dominate the partnership given his familiarity with Ferrari.
The current head to head statistics are as followed: Leclerc leads race results 9 to 2. Leclerc leads qualifying 8 to 6. Leclerc leads fastest lap 6 to 5. Hamilton leads laps in the top 10, 697 to 670. Hamilton is yet to score a podium with Ferrari this season and has reached the highest position of 4th. Leclerc’s highest position is 2nd.
Technical struggles derail championship hopes
The SF-25’s inconsistent behavior has effectively ended Leclerc’s 2025 title bid. The car shows podium pace one weekend, then struggles to score points the next. Leclerc has identified fundamental downforce and grip issues that become acute during qualifying sessions. McLaren’s superior tire management has emerged as the defining championship factor. The ability to keep tires cooler gives them a crucial advantage Ferrari cannot match. This technical deficit has cost Leclerc valuable points in key races where strategy played decisive roles.
The SF-25’s unpredictableness has also exposed Leclerc’s occasional overdriving tendency. The combination of technical limitations and adaptation issues have forced Ferrari and Leclerc to lose out on their pre-season goals.
With 119 points and fifth place Leclerc’s championship aspirations have pretty much evaporated. For the point deficit to Oscar Piastri to go down it would require exceptional Ferrari performance and significant McLaren problems.
Leclerc has been realistic about his diminishing chances. The points gap reflects early season errors, technical failures, and missed opportunities. His focus has shifted toward race wins and podium finishes rather than championship mathematics.
Learning from adversity and future prospects
Despite setbacks, Leclerc’s 2025 season has provided valuable learning experiences. Leading Ferrari’s charge while integrating Hamilton has tested his leadership qualities and mental resilience. The pressure has challenged him in new ways.
The SF-25’s technical struggles have forced Leclerc to adapt his driving style. While painful and costly, this adaptation could make him more complete. His podium finishes from a difficult car demonstrate his underlying talent remains intact.
The season has highlighted areas requiring improvement. His qualifying struggles need urgent attention for championship contention in the future. Performing alongside Hamilton has exposed weaknesses but provided learning opportunities from one of Formula 1’s greatest champions. Looking ahead, Leclerc faces salvaging meaningful results from a disappointing campaign. The immediate focus must be finding consistency and eliminating unexplained poor performances. Belgium and Hungary before the summer break offers a crucial reset opportunity.
Leclerc’s ability to bounce back will be tested in remaining races. The driver once destined for championship glory must prove 2025 represents a temporary setback. How he navigates these challenges will define not only his remaining campaign but his long-term Ferrari trajectory.
The season’s lesson appears clear: raw speed alone is insufficient for championship and is insufficient for championship success. Leclerc’s 2025 season journey from title contender to fifth place illustrates Formula 1’s fine margins between greatness and mediocrity.
