Charles Leclerc is not satisfied and is clamoring for news

Charles Leclerc leaves Suzuka with a bitter but satisfied smile: third place in the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix counts as a small personal victory. On the technical Suzuka track, the Monegasque defended the podium with determination, fending off George Russell’s assaults to the last, despite a particularly competitive Mercedes.

In the post-race interview with Damon Hill, the Ferrari driver analyzed his race with lucidity: “I defended the podium and it’s definitely a good result. It is one of those placings to take home, at least until we have the best car: a lot will depend on developments. Today I had to struggle a lot to keep up with George Russell and, in addition, the Safety Car did not help me: I lost a few positions and was forced to change my approach to the race. From there on, tire management became crucial and I tried to preserve them as much as possible.”

“From that moment on, I knew that I had to go after Lewis Hamilton and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but I didn’t get discouraged – he added -: I kept pushing, while at the same time trying to manage the tires to arrive in the final in the best conditions. Once I passed Russell, I was aware that in the last laps he would try in every way to take back the position, but I think I defended myself well. It was an intense and even entertaining duel, which allowed me to stay on the podium. Overall we saw a more competitive McLaren, while we lacked a bit of pace.”