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Charles Leclerc has offered a striking insight into the mood inside Maranello, declaring that he has never seen Ferrari work with such intensity since joining the team in 2019 — and expressing firm belief that the 2026 world championship remains wide open.
Ferrari currently sit 72 points behind championship leaders Mercedes, whose dominant grip on the top step of the podium has defined the early stages of F1's new regulatory era. McLaren and Red Bull have also emerged as genuine threats, with both teams posting podium finishes across the last three rounds and capable of usurping the Scuderia in the standings if momentum shifts further.
Yet the picture inside Ferrari is far from one of despair. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport between the Montreal and Monaco rounds of the season, Leclerc delivered a measured but pointed assessment of where things stand.
"Yes, of course. A season like the one we're experiencing, with new technical regulations, allows teams to have a very steep development curve," the Monegasque said. "In the first races, we discovered a lot about our car, and then worked in Maranello on important developments. Last year taught us how quickly hierarchies can change. This season can go in any direction, and the world championship is still wide open."
From the outset of the new era, Ferrari arrived with intent — a raft of innovations, including the fan-favourite Macarena wing, showcased their aggressive technical philosophy, with the concept later confirmed in race trim following extensive further development.
What has clearly impressed Leclerc most is not just the machinery, but the culture driving it. When asked to describe the atmosphere at Maranello amid Mercedes' ongoing dominance, his response was notably emphatic.
"I don't think I've ever seen the team so pushed to the limit," he said. "There's an aggressive mentality that I really like, in every aspect: the production, the innovation, the risks we've taken."
He also pointed to a change in emotional management within the team — a shift that feels just as significant as any aerodynamic upgrade. "The other different aspect I perceive is the calm: we want results, but at the same time, there's a clarity in managing everything that we didn't have a few seasons ago."
The Scuderia's SF-26 has been widely acknowledged as a class-leader through low-speed corners, a characteristic that plays directly into the hands of Monaco's tight, twisting streets. Lando Norris and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella have already identified Ferrari as pre-event favourites for the Monaco Grand Prix, citing that very strength. Jolyon Palmer, too, has suggested that Ferrari and Leclerc have a golden chance to take victory on the streets of Monte Carlo.
Leclerc's home race arrives at a pivotal moment. His teammate Lewis Hamilton secured a career-best result for Ferrari at the previous round in Montreal, and the seven-time world champion arrives in Monaco in strong form. It sets up a fascinating internal dynamic at the Scuderia, with both drivers capable of challenging at the front.
For Leclerc personally, Monaco carries unique weight — and his message to the Tifosi and the team is a simple one: keep pushing, keep believing.
"We need to keep working hard and not lose our enthusiasm, especially within the team," he said.
With the SF-26's low-speed credentials, a resurgent Ferrari spirit, and the most iconic street circuit on the calendar next up, Maranello's moment may be approaching.
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.