Charles Leclerc: Ferraris early switch to 2026 a no-brainer

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Ferraris Charles Leclerc competes during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.

AFP

ABU DHABI – Charles Leclerc has acknowledged that Ferrari made the right decision to shift focus to next year early in the 2025 season.

The Monaco driver went so far as to say that it was a “no-brainer”, given that the team were not going to insert themselves into the title picture.

“We were at a technical disadvantage from the first race, so it’s not like it changed massively our approach to the season,” Leclerc said during the final drivers press conference of the year in Abu Dhabi on Dec 18.

“And we saw it relatively quickly that we wouldn’t be fighting for the world title. Because McLaren was too strong, Red Bull was obviously starting to make big gains. It wasn’t very much of a point to put all our resources into trying to take the third or second place...

“I would have much preferred pushing the development the whole year to try and clinch that world title, 100 per cent. But if you are in the position that we were in at the beginning of the year, I think it was kind of a no-brainer. So, I don’t regret it.”

Leclerc, 28, captured seven podiums and one pole position en route to recording a fifth-place finish in the drivers’ standings. He had 242 points, well behind Lando Norris (423),Max Verstappen (421),Oscar Piastri (410) and George Russell (319).

Ferrari (398 points) finished fourth in the constructors’ standings behind McLaren (833),