Charles Leclerc: 'It's now or never' for Ferrari with 2026 F1 regulations

Charles Leclerc says Ferrari faces a "now or never" moment to deliver a championship-winning car under the sweeping new Formula 1 regulations set for 2026. After a disappointing, winless 2025 season that saw the team drop to fourth in the standings, Leclerc emphasizes that the upcoming rule reset is a crucial opportunity the Scuderia cannot afford to miss, especially as he continues his wait for a title shot that began in 2019.

Why it matters:

Major regulation changes in F1 are rare opportunities for teams to reset the competitive order. For Ferrari, which has not won a constructors' championship since 2008 and has struggled with inconsistent performance, nailing the 2026 car is paramount. Failure could cement another multi-year cycle of chasing the front-runners, while success could return the sport's most iconic team to the summit for the first time in nearly two decades.

The details:

• Leclerc's declaration comes after a frustrating 2025 campaign where Ferrari, after a poor start, redirected all aerodynamic development to the 2026 car as early as April.
• The result was a season without a victory for Leclerc or new teammate Lewis Hamilton, who notably suffered three consecutive Q1 eliminations to end the year.
• Team principal Fred Vasseur has faced increasing scrutiny in Italy over the team's direction and performance.
• Despite the setbacks, Leclerc maintains his belief in the project, stating the entire team is "hugely motivated" for the challenge ahead.
• He believes the competitive hierarchy for the next four-year regulatory cycle will become clear within the first six or seven races of the 2026 season.

The big picture:

Leclerc's patience is being tested, but his performance has not wavered. Alongside Mercedes' George Russell, he was widely regarded as one of the standout drivers of 2025 outside the title contenders, finishing a respectable fourth in the drivers' championship in an uncompetitive car. He rated his own season highly, focusing on refining ever-smaller details to extract maximum performance. The pressure is now on Ferrari's technical department to match the driver's commitment and talent with a car worthy of a championship fight.

What's next:

All eyes are on Maranello as the team finalizes its 2026 challenger. The "now or never" sentiment underscores that this is Ferrari's most significant opportunity in years. A strong start to the new era would validate the painful strategic decisions of 2025 and launch a credible title bid. Another misstep, however, would represent a catastrophic failure, potentially extending the championship drought and raising serious questions about the team's long-term direction under the current leadership.