Charles Leclerc has expressed that he does not regret Ferrari’s choice to halt the development of their 2025 Challenger car early in the season. Following a difficult start, Ferrari decided to cancel upgrades in April. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur later acknowledged that he underestimated the psychological impact of stopping development so soon, a comment that Jean Alesi criticized as a weak excuse. Due to the lack of updates, Ferrari is on track for their third winless season since 2020.
Ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Leclerc described the decision as “natural,” despite it leading to a frustrating year. He explained that since he was already at a technical disadvantage from the season’s start, it didn’t significantly alter their approach. They soon realized McLaren was too strong to challenge for the title, and Red Bull was making rapid progress. Leclerc stated that investing all resources to achieve second or third place wasn’t worthwhile, especially with the team leading the constructors’ championship, which is not their goal. While ideally, they would have developed the car continuously to aim for the world title, given their starting position, the choice to stop was understandable and he has no regrets.
Leclerc has had a strong season personally, outperforming his new teammate Lewis Hamilton across major statistics. He has secured all seven of Ferrari’s podiums so far, while Hamilton hasn’t finished higher than fourth in any race. Leclerc said he’s pleased with his own performance and the team’s efforts, although he acknowledged the car’s performance hasn’t matched expectations, especially compared to the previous year. Despite fewer upgrades due to focusing on 2026, the team responded well on track. Looking ahead, Leclerc hopes for improved car performance next season.
Fan Take: For racing fans, Ferrari’s decision highlights the tough strategic calls teams must make between short-term results and long-term gains. This move not only affects this season’s competition but could also shape the balance of power in the championship battles in the coming years, making the sport even more intriguing.
