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Charles Leclerc has revealed how he managed the intense criticism surrounding Ferrari during the most difficult phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season, confirming that he removed every social media application from his phone to concentrate solely on performance.
Ferrari’s constant scrutiny intensified after a disappointing previous year, which coincided with Lewis Hamilton’s arrival, although the team’s form improved significantly at the start of 2026. Leclerc, however, endured a far more difficult run as the season progressed.
His hopes of a strong result at his home race in Monaco were ended by a late-race accident. Barcelona then brought another setback: Hamilton secured his first Ferrari victory, while Leclerc reported hydraulic, gearbox and brake problems. He also acknowledged that a poor qualifying result had made the weekend even harder.
Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Leclerc said the surrounding negativity could directly affect a driver’s ability to perform.
“It was a very important one because it came into a moment of the season where there were lots of negativity around,” Leclerc said. “And when it's like this, it's always more difficult to perform.”
He rejected the idea that drivers can simply isolate themselves from outside pressure. Instead, Leclerc explained that he deliberately removed social media from his phone and focused on the car, his sensations behind the wheel and solving Ferrari’s problems.
Leclerc described the sequence from Canada through Monaco and Barcelona as three exceptionally challenging weekends. He said the pressure became especially difficult because questions about Ferrari’s struggles remained unavoidable during media commitments, even when those were the last subjects a driver wanted to discuss.
“Everything was negative around me, around the team. And again, to be working in this environment is difficult,” he said.
The situation finally turned at Silverstone, a circuit Leclerc enjoys but had expected to be among Ferrari’s most difficult venues alongside Spa. Despite those concerns, the car immediately gave him a positive feeling in free practice, and the weekend developed naturally toward victory.
That result arrived at a crucial moment. Leclerc said the win restored his morale and confidence in the car, while also renewing his belief in Ferrari’s ability to reverse a difficult situation. After a month of struggling between races, the victory provided the reset he and the team needed.
For more on Ferrari’s preparations for its home event, read our Ferrari Monza plan and SF-26 upgrade analysis.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.