Leclerc and the feeling with the SF-26
Charles Leclerc in this first part of 2026 has not hidden the adaptation difficulties he had with the Ferrari SF-26, but even more so with the new generation cars that do not allow him to exploit his proverbial aggressiveness in qualifying.
And the Monegasque is fourth in the drivers’ championship, 31 points behind Lewis Hamilton, whom he was regularly ahead of in 2025. Certainly, Leclerc still won at Silverstone, but it is also true that in Hungary – a track that has never suited him – he dropped from second on the grid to fifth at the checkered flag (later promoted to fourth due to Hamilton’s penalty).
Charles after 11 GPs in Ferrari
| YEAR | GP | POS | POINTS | WINS | POLES | PODIUMS |
| 2019 | 11 | 5th | 120 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 2020 | 11 | 8th | 63 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021 | 11 | 7th | 80 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | 11 (+2 SPR) | 2nd | 170 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| 2023 | 11 (+1 SPR) | 7th | 80 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 (+3 SPR) | 3rd | 150 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 | 11 (+1 SPR) | 5th | 119 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026 | 11 (+4 SPR) | 4th | 138 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Jean Alesi’s opinion
In his traditional commentary in the columns of Corriere della Sera, Jean Alesi also spoke about the moment the Ferrari driver is experiencing: “Leclerc is struggling like never before: it doesn’t seem he has a feeling with this car, I hope he manages to solve his problems.”
From the former French driver, a comment also on Hamilton: “Fast, with some distractions. Although, when you brake at the end of the straight, downhill, often the mirrors show the sky and not an opponent. If you then have that phenomenon Verstappen behind, everything gets complicated.”
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