Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari patience tested as rival teams show interest

January 7, 2026 Oliver Obel

Charles Leclerc’s long-term place at Ferrari is once again under discussion, with fresh reports suggesting the driver’s belief in the team’s ability to deliver a championship-winning car is being tested.

Leclerc has been central to Ferrari’s plans since his arrival in 2019, but sustained success has proved elusive. While the partnership has produced memorable moments, it has yet to generate a genuine title fight over a full season.

Promise without payoff

At 28, Leclerc is no longer the emerging talent Ferrari signed six years ago. He is now an established front-line driver still waiting for the car that would allow him to consistently challenge for a world championship.

He has claimed eight Formula 1 victories to date, beginning with his breakthrough win at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix and most recently at the 2024 United States Grand Prix. Those wins, however, have tended to arrive in isolation rather than as part of a sustained run at the front.

Read also: City Close In On Major £65m Move

That pattern continued in 2025. Leclerc finished fifth in the drivers’ standings, collecting seven podium finishes but spending much of the season managing the shortcomings of Ferrari’s SF-25. While competitive on occasion, the car fell short of what was required to keep pace with the leading teams.

Frustration and speculation

Spanish outlet Grada3, cited by F1 Oversteer, reported that Leclerc is becoming increasingly frustrated by Ferrari’s repeated failure to produce a title-contending package. The outlet characterised the driver as “growing tired” of waiting for a decisive breakthrough.

According to the same report, Leclerc is still prepared to give Ferrari “one more chance” to prove it can meet his ambitions. At the same time, uncertainty around the team’s trajectory has reportedly drawn attention from rivals.

Mercedes and Aston Martin have both been linked with the Ferrari driver. Grada3 reported that Mercedes have long held Leclerc in high regard, while Aston Martin are said to be considering long-term options as Fernando Alonso moves deeper into the latter stages of his career.

A decisive reset ahead

Despite the speculation, Leclerc has publicly pointed to Formula 1’s upcoming regulation overhaul as a potential turning point, not only for Ferrari but for the competitive order as a whole.

Speaking after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he acknowledged the scale of what lies ahead.

“I do, and next year will be a crucial year,” Leclerc said when asked whether Ferrari could deliver a strong car.

“The whole team is hugely motivated for next year, because it’s such a big change, a huge opportunity to show what Ferrari is capable of. It’s now or never,” he added.

Leclerc suggested that clarity may come quickly once the new rules are in place. “By race six or seven, I think we’ll have a good idea of who are the teams that will be dominating for the four years after,” he said.

For Ferrari, that window may be about more than competitiveness alone. It could also determine whether the driver they once viewed as a long-term cornerstone sees his future continuing in red.

Sources: Grada3, F1 Oversteer

Read also: PSG already planning the exit