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Charles Leclerc is refusing to get ahead of himself despite Ferrari’s ‘very positive’ start to 2026 and Formula 1’s new regulations.
Ferrari fans know all too well not to get too excited about one of their drivers topping the timing sheets in pre-season testing.
That’s exactly what Charles Leclerc did on the last day in Bahrain, but as the Monegasque driver enters his eighth season with the Scuderia, he’s well aware of the challenge ahead of him and his team.
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Martin Brundle has predicted Leclerc to win the Australian Grand Prix, and he’ll be confident that his combination of being one of the sport’s best qualifiers and Ferrari’s rapid getaways could give him a very decent chance.
However, despite it being Leclerc’s ‘dream’ for Ferrari to finally end their 18-year wait to win a championship, he’s refusing to be overly confident.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Charles Leclerc says it’s ‘too early’ to suggest 2026 could be Ferrari’s year
In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Leclerc shared what convinced him most about Ferrari’s new car during testing.
He said: “We worked well; it was a very well-structured test. Everything ran smoothly, we didn’t have any major problems, and we completed our plans.
“Now we need to delve into the details; we’ve verified what we needed to understand. Having no setbacks was very positive, because that hasn’t always been the case in the past.”
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Leclerc was asked whether F1’s new regulations were an opportunity or a risk for the Scuderia, and he continued: “It’s definitely an opportunity. We’ve worked hard to get ready for this new challenge.
“So I can’t wait to see how we’ll position ourselves for the first league match: that will be the starting point for everyone, and whoever gets a head start will benefit greatly for the next four years.
“This is incredibly exciting and gives the coaches room to unleash their creativity.”
Finally, Leclerc was quizzed on whether 2026 will be ‘Ferrari’s year’, and he said: “It would be a dream, but it’s too early to make any predictions, especially since we have no idea of our rivals’ potential.
“We don’t know who’s really ahead right now. Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull already seem well-prepared, very strong, and quite close, but Mercedes is perhaps a little further ahead.”
READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton know Ferrari must ‘come first’ this season
If Ferrari are as competitive as expected heading into the Australian Grand Prix, then both drivers will be able to quickly put the disappointment of last season behind them.
Lewis Hamilton is still searching for his first Grand Prix podium as a Ferrari driver, and the uncertainty surrounding the race in Melbourne could be just what he and Leclerc need to put down a marker against the rest of the grid.
Hamilton has admitted Ferrari ‘come first’ this season, but whether that actually comes to pass is another matter should a historic eighth title suddenly be within reach.
All the signs from recent seasons suggest that if Ferrari have built a championship-winning car, it’s Leclerc that has the best chance of achieving a historic title.
However, Hamilton has experience on his side and knows the pressure of trying to win a championship better than anyone else on the grid.
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