Charles Leclerc says Ferrari are doing something he’s never seen before to catch Mercedes

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Charles Leclerc has shared his amazement at the level that Ferrari are currently working at as the Scuderia attempts to bridge the gap between themselves and Mercedes.

Ferrari currently sit 72 points adrift of their championship-leading rivals, Mercedes, following the Silver Arrows’ utter domination of the top step of the podium this season.

From pre-season, it became clear that the Scuderia had come to play during F1’s new era of regulations. A swathe of innovations, including the fan favourite Macarena wing, was on display, with it later being used in race trim following months of further testing.

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However, at recent race weekends, it has become apparent that McLaren and Red Bull could quickly usurp the Prancing Horse in the championship standings, with both of Ferrari’s rivals scoring podium finishes in the last three rounds.

Still, the unprecedented level of work ethic that Leclerc has seen from within Maranello looks to be an encouraging update for their beloved Tifosi.

• READ MORE: Charles Leclerc says watching Lewis Hamilton up close at Ferrari has ‘opened his mind’

Charles Leclerc has never seen Ferrari ‘so pushed to the limit’ since joining in 2019

During an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport in between the Montreal and Monaco rounds of the 2026 F1 season, Charles Leclerc gave his thoughts on Ferrari’s current position, as well as what the rest of the season holds for him.

In terms of the title landscape, Leclerc truly believes it is still wide open. “Yes, of course. A season like the one we’re experiencing, with new technical regulations, allows teams to have a very steep development curve,” he said.

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“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.

“We need to keep working hard and not lose our enthusiasm, especially within the team.”

The Monegasque was then asked what the atmosphere at Maranello is like at the moment amid Mercedes’ ongoing dominance in the sport, to which he replied, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the team so pushed to the limit.

“There’s an aggressive mentality that I really like, in every aspect: the production, the innovation, the risks we’ve taken.

“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.”

• READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton’s chances of winning the Monaco GP receive boost as the FIA announce new changes

Leclerc’s home Grand Prix is next up on the calendar this weekend, and Ferrari have already been tipped to be favourites for the grid’s foray around the streets of Monaco. The SF-26 is a class-leader in low-speed corners, something the Circuit de Monaco is littered with.

However, he must also be wary of his high-flying teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who secured a career-best finish for Ferrari last time out in Montreal. The seven-time world champion is in form, but Leclerc is no slouch when it comes to the Monaco Grand Prix.