Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has backed Charles Leclerc to keep improving, stating he is not naturally suited to this year’s new Formula 1 regulations.
The Monegasque has started in a lively fashion, taking third place in Melbourne and fourth in China, amid a thrilling battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Leclerc won the plaudits of many in 2025, taking seven podiums and one pole position, despite the handicap of the problematic SF-25.
And it appears that he is following in that vain, spending the early stages of both of this year’s rounds going into battle with the dominant Mercedes cars.
Leclerc initially showed some disdain for the new regulations, saying as far back as last year that he was “not a fan” of them after experiencing them in an early simulator session at Maranello.
But Vasseur is confident that Leclerc will thrive further, once he has driven further in the SF-26, which has already shown far more promise than the previous car did.
“Yeah, but it’s always the case that we have the biggest step in terms of regulations from 25 to 26 than other years, and this requires probably more adaptation and changes; a different approach from the drivers. He is doing it,” he said.
“I’m not sure it was fitting very well with his style, but he is on it. He has a very good grip in understanding the situation with the car. He is very sharp, and he will do it.”
Leclerc’s stock might never be higher after last year, in which he consistently outdrove the persistently obtuse SF-25 to a myriad of good results.
It appears that he is settling into the new cars just fine, and with the SF-26 managing to give far more reason to be confident of success already, Leclerc might find himself back on the top step of the podium at some point in 2026.
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