Leclerc declares 2026 'now or never' season for Ferrari after winless 2025 campaign

Charles Leclerc ended his winless 2025 season with a stark ultimatum for Ferrari: the 2026 regulation overhaul is the team's last chance to reclaim championship contention. Following Abu Dhabi's podium-less finale, the Monegasque driver declared the upcoming season a 'now or never' moment that will define Ferrari's trajectory for the next four years.

Why it matters:

Leclerc's unusually direct warning signals growing impatience within a team that dominated 2024 but collapsed in 2025. With F1's most significant technical reset since 2014 arriving in 2026, Ferrari faces a rare opportunity to reset the competitive order—but also risks permanent relegation to midfield status if they misjudge the new rules. This isn't just about one season; it determines whether Leclerc's prime years align with Ferrari's return to the front.

The details:

• Leclerc confirmed his frustration with 2025's winless campaign, calling it "a very difficult season" he wanted to "forget"—a sharp contrast to Ferrari's 2024 resurgence.
• He emphasized that the 2026 regulation changes create a unique reset point where teams can leapfrog competitors, but warned: "It's now or never... important for the four years after."
• The driver specifically highlighted the first seven races as critical for establishing the new pecking order, noting rivals would quickly expose any development miscalculations.
• Contrary to speculation about strategy disputes, Leclerc backed Ferrari's early pivot to 2026 development as "a no-brainer," acknowledging the impossibility of competing on 2025 machinery next year.

What's next:

The pressure now shifts to Maranello's technical leadership as they race against time to interpret the new rules. Ferrari's chassis chief Loic Serra and power unit team face their first true test under sporting director Frédéric Vasseur's leadership.

• If Ferrari's 2026 package underdelivers, Leclerc—whose contract runs through 2027—may reconsider his future at a team that hasn't won a drivers' title since 2007.
• Mercedes and Red Bull's responses to the regulation changes will be equally crucial, but Ferrari's window is narrower given their recent performance volatility.
• The true test arrives in March 2026: either Ferrari emerges as an immediate frontrunner, or Leclerc's "now or never" warning becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that reshapes F1's competitive landscape for years.