Charles Leclerc involved in ‘awkward’ exchange with interviewer over 2025 Ferrari goals

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Charles Leclerc has experienced seasons like 2024 before. He’s won a couple of races and scored a multitude of podiums but failed to compete for the title.

While he’ll hope to add to it before the season is out, Leclerc’s haul of two victories matches his tally from 2019. And it’s one short of what he managed in 2022.

The difference this year is that he finally ended the ‘Monaco curse’ before winning Ferrari’s home race in Italy. For Leclerc, these are the most meaningful Grands Prix on the calendar.

With nine top-three finishes and 245 points, he’s been in the top three of the world championship since Jeddah. Karun Chandhok has praised Leclerc’s ‘brilliant’ consistency, which he feels has gone under the radar.

But the fact remains that he’s 86 points behind Max Verstappen ahead of the final six rounds, which means he has no realistic shot at the championship. As he approaches 150 race starts and his 27th birthday, he’ll want more.

Ferrari haven’t tasted glory since 2008, when they won the constructors’ title, and Kimi Raikkonen (2007) is their last drivers’ champion. For 2025, they’ve signed the sport’s most successful driver in Lewis Hamilton, their biggest play yet as they bid to end that drought.

Charles Leclerc knew he’d given interviewer a ‘headline’ with Ferrari title prediction

Leclerc believes Ferrari can win the title in 2025. When asked by ESPN’s Laurence Edmondson, he gave a one-word reply – ‘yes’.

That led to a somewhat ‘awkward’ exchange because the Monegasque knew he’s created a headline. But Edmondson says that Ferrari see it as ‘realistic’ rather than aspirational.

Ferrari sit third in this year’s constructors’ championship, 75 points behind leaders McLaren. They haven’t finished within 100 of the victors since 2018.

“He was very clear that it’s not only the target, it’s a realistic target,” said Edmondson. “And he answered it so frankly that it was almost a bit awkward because he was like ‘there’s your headline’. Okay, well, I will run with that. But I’ll try and put it in the context that deserves because it is a big deal.”

Charles Leclerc was ‘wary’ of saying one thing about Lewis Hamilton

Leclerc also discussed his upcoming battle with Hamilton during the interview. If he is to win the championship, he’ll have to overcome what is, on paper, the ultimate challenge from the other side of the garage.

But some would argue that Hamilton is no longer at the peak of his powers. George Russell has bested him in qualifying this year and they sit level at two victories apiece during their partnership.

Still, Leclerc was ‘wary’ of ‘overstepping’ by saying he could offer the 39-year-old advice. He’s enjoyed a largely strong relationship with Carlos Sainz and will hope for similar harmony with the new arrival.

David Coulthard expects Leclerc to outpace Hamilton, but he thinks the veteran will win more races. It promises to be one of the most fascinating match-ups in F1 history.