Charles Leclerc frames the key factor for the new season
In Maranello, Ferrari lifted the veil on the SF-26, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton’s new single-seater for the 2026 F1 World Championship. It is the Maranello team’s 72nd car, the eighth for the Monegasque driver, who spoke on the sidelines of the presentation. “The 2026 rules require even more preparation, especially from us drivers– he began -There are many new systems to understand and make the most of, which is why we have been working hard since the early stages of the project” development.
“In my years with Scuderia Ferrari, we have already experienced major regulatory changes together: we know how complex the challenge is, but we are working with great motivation to get to the track as prepared as possible– added Charles. “Energy and power unit management will be one of the most significant aspects, a stimulating challenge that will require from us drivers a rapid adaptation process, leveraging initially more on instinct and then on an increasing use of accurate data”.
“The support of the fans this season will be particularly: it is what makes Ferrari so special and pushes us to always give our best” concluded Leclerc, who took to the track at Fiorano with the new single-seater in the shakedown after his teammate Hamilton. The two Rossa drivers did a couple of race laps and a start test to make sure that everything was in perfect order ahead of the Barcelona test at Montmeló, scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26 to Friday, Jan. 30.
Charles Leclerc’s last season was a nightmare. What was supposed to be the year of consecration turned out to be a total disappointment, with not a single GP won. At 28 years old, Charles Leclerc has yet to win a single World Championship title and, more importantly, struggles to keep up with his age peers. Seeing Lando Norris become World Champion was a blow to the Monegasque, who has always dreamed of winning the World Championship.
Landing in F1 back in 2018 (driving for Sauber), Charles Leclerc switched to Ferrari the following year with the certainty that he could fight for the World Championship. In reality, in his seven years with the Cavallino, he has seen others (Max Verstappen in particular) celebrate, without ever having the right single-seater to aspire to anything prestigious. His statistics do not lie: he has participated in 173 GPs and won “only” eight. Too little for someone with his talent.
