Charles Leclerc: After Montmeló, the Ferrari fanbase is becoming even more divided
Charles Leclerc also ended qualifying for the Barcelona Grand Prix in the barriers, following the incidents that had marked both his personal Saturday and Sunday at Monte Carlo during the Monaco Grand Prix just seven days earlier. The Ferrari driver addressed this latest setback with harsh words of self-criticism. But the events at Montmeló have added further fuel to a fire that was already raging: that of the Prancing Horse’s fans. Who seem increasingly split down the middle regarding him.
One need only glance at social media to grasp the extent of the issue. Many Ferrari fans continue to defend Leclerc, praising his desire to always get the most out of his SF-26, even at the risk of overdoing it. However, opposing voices are growing in number, disappointed after the third setback in a week and merciless in comparing him to his teammate Lewis Hamilton, his eternal rival Max Verstappen, and—in some cases—even Carlos Sainz.
“Charles, I admire you and root for you because you give it your all. This time it went wrong, but I’ll never forget those two wins at Monza. Victories achieved solely thanks to your heart. I was there in person, and it was an incredible thrill. Now, tomorrow, lower your visor and go… Foot down and fight on,” wrote one of Leclerc’s supporters. “The class is there,” echoed another. “Let’s let him relax for a moment and regain his confidence. In sports, your mindset accounts for 51%; there’s no point in sitting here and ranting. In England, they’re called ‘supporters,’ so let’s try to support him. Keep it up, Charles—clear your mind and become the child prodigy you are.” A third fan was more concise: “Don’t worry, keep your head down, cut the chatter, and put your foot down.”
Other Ferrari fans, however, are starting to lose patience. “The mistake is yours, just like in the past races. You didn’t follow Lewis because you think you’re stronger. You lack humility. That’s why you’ll never be a champion,” thundered one of them, directly comparing him to Hamilton, who finished second both at the Monaco finish line and on the Barcelona grid while his teammate crashed into the wall. “You have to catch Verstappen if you want to start winning again. Leclerc has already squandered too many opportunities; I don’t understand why they renewed his contract,” reads another, merciless comment. Even more ruthless is another: “Way overrated; Carlos Sainz is much better. Had they made the right choice, Ferrari would certainly be further ahead.”
However, opinions of this nature are strongly opposed by other Ferrari fans, who remain loyal to the Monegasque driver and indeed seem to support him even more than in less challenging times. “Why isn’t anyone who insults Leclerc racing in F1??? I see so many great drivers in the comments—it’s absurd that no team has contacted you for a contract,” one of them quips. Another shares a similar view: “So much criticism from people who can’t even drive a first-generation 500. Here we’re talking about insane speeds, and the mistake lies in accelerating or braking a tenth of a second too early or too late. Everything has to be perfect. Not easy, and then everyone’s a driver.” Some, however, take a middle ground: “I’ve always rooted for him! But now he just complains! Too much talk and too little action, and that action is just damage.”
The numbers, after all, tell a merciless story. Leclerc heads into the Catalan Grand Prix with 75 points in the standings, fifteen fewer than his teammate Hamilton, currently second in the World Championship behind the season’s dominant force, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. A gap that stings even more when you consider that the Monegasque driver had a car capable of pole position in Barcelona, as he himself admitted through gritted teeth after qualifying: “Right now I just feel ashamed; the car was good for pole. I was coming off several difficult weekends for reasons I know. This time we came into qualifying with a lot of changes and confidence; I was improving, and then this mistake happened. It’s a real shame because the potential for pole was there. I tried something different in Turn 4—that had been our weak spot. In the other corners we were the fastest of all, everywhere except Turn 4. There are no excuses; I’m so sorry for the fans. I’m optimistic for Sunday. I know I can come back, but at the very least I’d have to win to make up for what I did.”
While Leclerc spun into the wall, Hamilton secured the front row alongside pole-sitter George Russell, marking a historic moment: never before had the seven-time world champion occupied the front row in a Ferrari. He chose to be understanding toward his teammate: “These cars are difficult to drive. Charles had a lot of speed going into that corner, but then something obviously happened. It won’t be easy to challenge Mercedes without him.”
